Huddersfield Town finally confirm the appointment of highly regarded new head coach Mark Fotheringham and reveal all about him.
The Terriers have named the former Hertha Berlin assistant as their new boss, the successor to Danny Schofield, with the initial contract set to run through to June 2025.
Fotheringham took training for the first time on Tuesday afternoon, as many knew already having leaked photos online, and will be in the dugout at Reading this weekend.
A former player for clubs including Celtic, Norwich, Notts County and Fulham in a career that also included several spells abroad, the 38-year-old Scot has spent the past few years coaching in Germany as an assistant at Karlsruher and Ingolstadt, as well as acting as player-assistant in his native Scotland with Cowdenbeath.
Huddersfield currently sit 23rd in the Championship table, having picked up 7 points from 9 games.
š Weāre delighted to welcome Mark Fotheringham to the Club as our new Head Coach!#htafc | #TerrierSpirit
ā Huddersfield Town (@htafc) September 28, 2022
CLUB STATEMENT:
Weāre delighted to welcome Mark Fotheringham to Huddersfield Town as our new Head Coach!
The 38-year-old Scotsman has been identified as the right man to lead the First Team after a thorough recruitment process.
His contract, which runs until June 2025, was finalised on Wednesday morning, but he had already started his work at Town by taking training for the first time on Tuesday afternoon as preparations continue for Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship game at Reading.
Fotheringham has significant experience in coaching in the top levels of German football, most recently guiding Hertha Berlin to Bundesliga survival during the second half of 2021/22 as Assistant Coach to legendary German manager Felix Magath.
Previously Mark, who is currently working towards his UEFA Pro License, helped FC Ingolstadt 04 gain promotion to 2. Bundesliga and coached in the German second tier with Karlsruher SC, adding to two years coaching in Scottish football with Cowdenbeath.
Before hanging up his boots, Fotheringham made close to 300 appearances as a midfielder across five countries. Having become Celticās youngest ever debutant as a 16-year-old, he gained vast experience through playing spells in England, Germany, Switzerland, and Cyprus, whilst also representing his country of birth at Under-21 level.
Mark will work with assistants NarcĆs PĆØlach, Paul Harsley, Head of Goalkeeping Paul Clements, and the rest of our existing technical staff at the Millers Oils High Performance Complex.
Head of Football Leigh Bromby commented:
āWe have explored a wide range of options in our search for our next Head Coach, and Mark became our first choice after our very first meeting. His beliefs in coaching and football fit very well with our methods at the Club, and we also believe he can also add to what we do because of who he has worked for and with during his career so far.
āMark has worked at some top clubs with some of the best coaches around. His most recent spell came last season at a big city side in Hertha Berlin under a manager who has been right at the top of the game for many successful years in Felix Magath. Before that, he worked under Michael Henke at Ingolstadt ā a man who has won the Champions League twice as a coach. That adds to his other experience across the UK and Europe that heās accumulated as a coach and a player since the age of 16.
āHe believes in an aggressive, intense, front-foot style of play, just as we do. That was vitally important.
āThe ability to lead and motivate our squad and staff was also high on the requirements for this appointment, and they are qualities that Mark exudes naturally. You feel it when you meet him, and that is backed up by the testimony of many big names in football who heās worked with, both alongside him as a coach and as a player under him.
āI know that Huddersfield Town fans will get right behind Mark, the coaching staff, and the players as we work together to drive us up the Sky Bet Championship table.ā
For a more detailed profile of Markās career as a coach and a player, click HERE.
To read some articles written about Mark and his coaching career by newspapers and other independent media, click HERE.
This is how fans reacted as Huddersfield finally confirm the appointment of highly regarded new head coach Mark Fotheringham…
@SebHTFC: āMark became our first choice after our very first meetingā Ok Leigh š
@LeeTheTerrier: Give him a chance. If it doesnāt work, there is no hiding place for those appointing him. If it does, everyone is happy. #htafc
@ReeceSFTBL: As unambitious an appointment this is, I’m going to hold onto the hope that this will be a good appointment in the long run. I’ll be supporting him either way because let’s face it it’s not gonna fill either him or players with confidence seeing a backlash
@herthabscedits: You’re very lucky! Wish you the best, Mark! Thank you for everything š
@daveinnorfolk19: Enjoy the fozzy flick. I donāt know what it is, but when he signed for #ncfc we were told it was a big thing!
@IrelandTerriers: Welcome Mark! Been a strange old couple of weeks at #HTAFC but hopefully things calm down now and the lads can get up the table!
@Southn_Terriers: Welcome Mark. We will be supporting you and your team from the stands in Reading on Saturday, and for the rest of the season. All the very best for a long and successful tenure at @htafc. UTT UTST
@Michael_HTFC: Really hope it works out just donāt have a good feeling about this but i also felt same about Carlos so proves I know fuck all
@michaelfoster93: Like any fan, Iāll give him unconditional support from the off. Wouldnāt have been my choice, but taking comfort from the knowledge that Brombyās neck is on the line on this one. #htafc
@John_E_Reese: Anyone whoās had any dealings with Mark or knows anyone that has, will tell you how highly thought of and well respected he is as a coach. Only felt like a matter of time before he took the top job somewhere. Give him time and I think this will prove a smart appointment.
@Baldwin_Jack: Will always back town but this just seems like a schofield 2.0. Cheap option again. We literally could of had David Wagner back š time to go Hoyle and bromby
@CallumDenton8: I hope Iām proved wrong but this is just such an uninspiring appointment. Club in dire straits and we appoint a guy thatās never managed before. UTT though eh
@htafc_ben: Canāt say Iām impressed but weāll wait and see. Quite simply this canāt afford to be a mistake for ours and Brombyās sake. #htafc
@tiger_newy: Iām behind it. Sounds a strong character and thatās what these players need. Good Luck Mark Fotheringham!!!
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