Meet the opposition | Norwich City
As Swansea City prepare to take on Norwich City at Carrow Road, we take a closer look at the Canaries.
What’s their story?
Norwich are back in the Championship this season following a solitary season in the Premier League on the back of their second-tier triumph in 2018-19.
With five separate stints in the Premier League since its inception in the 1992-93 season, the club achieved its highest-ever position in the same year with a third-place finish.
Falling to the third tier in 2009 for the first time in nearly 50 years, the Canaries clinched successive promotions under Paul Lambert, narrowly edging the Swans in the hunt for automatic promotion in 2010-11.
Relegation in 2015 was followed by the club bouncing straight back up at the first time of asking thanks to play-off success under manager Alex Neil, but they dropped back into the second tier for a record-equalling fourth time in 2016, before another rise and fall over the previous two seasons.
Their most notable honours are two League Cup victories in 1962 and 1985, whilst they became the first English club to beat Bayern Munich at the Olympic Stadium during their 1993-94 UEFA Cup campaign, with Wales international Jeremy Goss among the goalscorers in that famous success.
How’s their form?
On the up. The Canaries are unbeaten in their last six games, winning four and drawing two.
They had started with two defeats in their first four league games on their return to the Championship, but they had looked to be a side finding their confidence and rhythm since the 1-0 defeat to Derby at the start of October.
Who’s the boss?
Daniel Farke. Playing his entire career in the lower leagues of German football, Farke’s first managerial move came at the helm of his beloved SV Lippstadt, a club he joined three times as a player.
Taking over as manager at the age of 32, Farke led the club from the sixth tier of the German leagues into the fourth, before taking charge of Borussia Dortmund II when Thomas Tuchel was at the helm of the first team of the Bundesliga giants.
Placed in charge of the Canaries in 2017, Farke came through a challenging first season at Carrow Road where he laid the foundations for their Championship-winning campaign in 2018-19.
They were relegated from the Premier League, but have kept a nucleus of players who were so effective two years ago.
Who’s the captain?
Grant Hanley. The Scotland international has had his injury problems since joining Norwich in 2017, but he remains an experienced and influential figure within the camp.
The 28-year-old got his break with Blackburn in 2010, having spent time in the youth ranks of Queen of the South, Crewe, Rangers and Rovers.
He spent eight years in total at Ewood Park before a solitary season with Newcastle.
He is now in his fourth season with Norwich.
Who are the key men?
Teemu Pukki was an integral part of Norwich’s Championship success two seasons ago, and he has already scored four times this term.
Eni Buendia continues to bring considerable class and guile to their forward play, while young forward Adam Idah looks to be a considerable talent.
At the back, Hanley, Ben Gibson and Max Aarons all offer Premier League experience, as does midfielder Oliver Skipp, who has joined on loan from Tottenham.
Tim Krul brings bags of knowledge and ability between the sticks.
