Exclusive: Norwich City warned of "massive risk" amid Jack Wilshere situation | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie weighs in on Jack Wilshere potentially being permanently appointed as Norwich City head coach.

Lee Hendrie has drawn a similarity between Jack Wilshere's potential permanent appointment as Norwich City head coach and the likes of Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard's emergence into first-team management.

Saturday would've been quite a spectacle for Arsenal fans as former Gunners midfield pair Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey renewed acquaintances, but this time in the dugout.

The former was appointed as Norwich's caretaker manager until the end of the season, following the sacking of Johannes Hoff Thorup, whilst the latter found himself in the same boat at already relegated Cardiff City.

However, this might not be the final time that Wilshere steps foot in the Canaries dugout as the main man. EFL expert Graeme Bailey reported last week that the former England international could land his first permanent job as the next Norwich head coach.

After the disappointment of Thorup's short rein at Carrow Road, the Norfolk-based club need a new long-term successor to try and take them back to the Premier League. If they're willing to play the patient game, the 33-year-old might well be the right pick.

Lee Hendrie compares Jack Wilshere's potential Norwich City appointment to fellow

Football League World spoke exclusively to former Aston Villa midfielder turned Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie, quizzing the 47-year-old on his take on Norwich's potential permanent appointment of the former Arsenal star.

Hendrie said: "This is a real big one, I feel because we’ve seen coaches which Jack Wilshere has been around, a lot of younger players and we’ve seen a lot of coaches doing relatively well.

“Obviously, with that background he has of where he’s been and what he’s achieved playing football.

“It is a big gamble - there’s no doubt about it. I don’t think it’s a bad gamble, I think he’d have learned a fair bit.

“We know taking that step up, we’ve seen the likes of Lampard, Rooney and the Gerrard’s of the world that have had to really have a look at things and come out of places, get sacked and all the rest of it.

“I think the appointment, if it is to be permanent, is always going to be a risk without having any experience of actually working and taking a team with any EFL status.

“You are taking a massive risk, but it’s always a risk that can pay off with his background.”

Jack Wilshere appointment seems inevitable for Norwich

After once being one of English football's most exciting prospects once upon a time, the 33-year-old was forced to call time on his career early after being plagued with injuries.

However, his coaching career has only just begun and looks equally as promising as his playing career did at the start. Wilshere guided Arsenal under-18s to an FA Youth Cup final before joining his predecessor's coaching staff in October 2024.

It seemed that this appointment was one that the Canaries made with a long-term vision in mind, but being appointed the permanent manager just six months after joining the club might be a little bit more premature than initially expected.

Whilst Hendrie is right that appointing Wilshere poses risks, the world-class dressing rooms he's been a part of and the small amount of coaching experience he's gained, there is no reason to believe that it isn't a risk worth taking.