Norwich City: Leigh Bromby on Narcis Pelach & Paul Clements

Clements has joined new Stoke boss Narcis Pelach in leaving Carrow Road for the Potteries, ending a 15-month stay in Norfolk after compensation was agreed for the pair.

Bromby, who worked with the pair at Huddersfield Town first as a coach and then head of football operations, believes that’s a significant blow for his former loan side.

“I think it’s a big loss,” he told the Pink Un of Clements' exit. “You look at Angus Gunn and he says it’s the best he’s played in his career. I’ve watched him, and it is.

“I think it’s one of the most important positions in the team, because we all know goalkeepers can win you so many points. He did it with Lee Nicholls at Huddersfield, and he’s done it with Gunn at Norwich.

“It will have an impact. The players will love Paul and trust him. Trying to replace that is difficult.”

The 39-year-old is highly rated across the footballing world, having previously worked at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Middlesbrough. Bromby is a big fan of his, and says he brings a variety of strengths to the table.

“The biggest surprise when I left Huddersfield was Paul Clements leaving,” he continued. “I could not understand it. I had coached with him since the academy, so I was with him for 10 years. He’s the best coach, goalkeeper or otherwise, that I’ve worked with.

“We were really lucky to have him. It’s not just the goalkeeper coaching either, he’s got other attributes and skills that help around the first team as well. For me he’s the best in the country.

“Clem was really loyal to me when I was at Huddersfield. Stuart Webber brought him to Norwich, really valued him and thought he was good, and Stu knows what good looks like. He’s a top coach, a really good guy, and I’m sure he’ll make it a success at Stoke.”

Pelach is no different, and his seen his reputation grow exponentially since moving to England with the Terriers in 2020.

Bromby received approaches from multiple clubs for the Spaniard during his time at the John Smith’s Stadium, and knew from early in their time together that a career in the top job awaited his colleague.

Former City first-team coach Narcis Pelach has taken Clements with him to the Potteries (Image: PA)

“You could tell that he was either going to work at the top level as an assistant or he was going to go by himself,” said the 44-year-old of Pelach. “He always had that burning desire to be a head coach.

“At Huddersfield we wanted him to potentially move into that role. He took over interim a couple of times, but it didn’t quite work, because sometimes you just need to get the results. But there was always the intention of getting him into that role.

“Straight away you were like ‘this coach is really talented’, in terms of his professionalism and the way he went about it. He was really enthusiastic, professionally outstanding and as a person he cared about the club and wanted to get better.

“He had that part of it as well, and you don’t always get both. He had a good mix of personality and drive. I’ve got nothing but superlatives to say about him.”

That work ethic and likeability is what leads Bromby to believe that those behind the Colney scenes will wish Pelach well, from former bosses to the players he’s worked with.

Pelach (right) was well liked by Canaries players (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) “Because he’s a good character and a good person, I think he’ll leave Norwich and they’ll want him to do well,” the ex-Leeds player added. “I bet everyone, the new manager, the old manager, will be texting him wishing him all the best.

“He cares about improving players, that’s the key. It’s very individual in terms of trying to develop players, and he was good at that, he understood that.

“That’s why the players love him: not because he goes in and he’s everyone’s friend and going out with the players, the players love him because he cares about making them better.

“He’s not a soft touch. He’s got a great personality and a likeable personality, but players like him because he pushes them to improve. That’s what coaching is.”