After days of speculation and waiting for a work permit, David Wagner was confirmed as Norwich's new head coach on 6th January 2023., replacing Dean Smith who was sacked on 27th December 2022. Norwich held talks with four candidates - including Wagner - about becoming their new boss, with the ex-Huddersfield man chosen due to his preferred style of play, past record with young players and ability to create a connection with supporters. 

Born in Frankfurt, Wagner made his playing debut for Eintracht Frankfurt in 1990 but that was his only appearance. A striker, he later spent four seasons with Mainz O5, Schalke 04 (where he was part of the squad that won the UEFA Cup in 1997), FC Gutersloh, Waldhor Mannheim, Darmstadt 98, TSG Weinhem before ending his playing career with Germania Pfungstadt in 2004/5.

He took a step away from the world of football to focus on his studies at the University of Darmstadt, obtaining a degree in Biology and Sports Science.before becoming coach, working with his former Mainz 05 teammate Jurgen Klopp and was appointed manager of Borussia Dortmund II in July 2011. He took charge of the German giants' reserves for 164 matches and earned promotion with his youthful side to the third division in his first full season; the highest league that second teams were allowed to play in. His side were one of only four reserve teams in the division.

He left the role on 31st October 2015 amind rumours that he was going to join Klopp at Liverpool. Instead he was appointed manager of Huddersfield Town on 5th November 2015, taking Christoph Buhler with him. He was appointed by Huddersfield's Sporting Director Stuart Webber who would later appoint him at Norwich. After a rebuilding job in the summer of 2016, Wagner led Huddersfield to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs and a victory over Reading on 29th May 2017. They finished 16th in their first season but on 14th January 2019, Wagner and Huddersfield parted company with the Terriers bottom of the Premier League and eight points from safety.

Wagner was capped by Germany at Under-21 level but as his mother had married an American, he won eight caps for the USA between 1996 and 1998, making his debut against El Salvador in a 3-1 win in August 1996.

Wagner departed the Yorkshire club in 2019, becoming head coach of Bundesliga outfit Schalke. A positive start saw them lose just three of their opening 25 matches but an 18 game winless run, not helped by off-the-field instability, saw Schalke relegated and Wagner eventually sacked on 27th September 2020.

He then joined Swiss side Young Boys in June 2021 but was unable to retain the Swiss title, finishing 15 points behind champions FC Zurich. He was again sacked, in March 2022, despite impressive Champions League results against Manchester United and against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League.

Wagner's first game in charge of Norwich was a 1-0 home defeat to Blackburn Rovers in the third round of the FA Cuo on 8th January 2023.

On 17th May 2024 he was sacked as Norwich manager, the day after the Canaries had crashed out of the Championship play-offs losing in the semifinals 4-0 at Leeds. He had managed City for 75 matches, winning 31, drawing 17 and losing 27. His cautious play and uninspiring substitutions did not endear him to the fans. Sporting Director Ben Knapper said “David has operated with class and dignity throughout his period as Norwich City head coach, but we now feel that the time is right for us to move in a different direction. We remain committed to progressing our football club, in both the short and long-term, working through a diligent and thorough strategy. The appointment of a new head coach is an important one. We will now work and continue our due diligence with the view of making an appointment in the near future.

The club statement added: 'All at Norwich City would like to place on record our thanks to both David and Christoph for their hard work and contributions to the club. We wish them well in their future careers. The club will now progress with its plans of appointing a new head coach.'

In July 2024 it was reported that Wagner was on a short list to become the next South Korea national coach and was due to have talks with Korean FA officials.Gus Poyet, who was in charge of Greece until they failed to qualify for the Euros, is the other leading candidate. Reports suggest both Wagner and Poyet impressed in video interviews, with contractual terms not believed to be an issue in either case.