In the third part of our interview series finding out more about West Ham United Head Coach Graham Potter’s backroom staff, we hear from Narcís Pèlach.
There are many different routes to prominence and the Premier League.
Some are longer and more complex than others. Some take decades, some take months and some are fast-tracked straight out of playing careers. But Pèlach’s journey to east London and West Ham has been far from conventional.
Most footballers decide if they want to get into coaching when they’re coming towards the end of their playing days, but Pèlach knew he wanted to become a coach before his professional career had even started.
As a player, the Catalan started his career with hometown club Girona FC, then spent time playing in the Spanish football pyramid with UD Cassà, AEC Manlleu, Palamós CF and UE Figueres, but admittedly his full attention was on coaching.
Indeed, Pèlach hung up his boots at the age of just 27 to pursue his dream of becoming a Premier League coach, and having spent time working with Figueres’ youth teams upon his move there two years earlier, he was offered the job as manager of the the fourth-tier club's senior men's team in 2016.
By 2018, he departed and performed a similar role for Peralada-Girona B in Segunda División B, before Juan Carlos Unzué, a man who has worked for Frank Rijkaard, Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique, named him as his assistant manager of Girona's first team.
Never shy in taking the necessary decision to continue his upward trajectory, Pèlach’s move to Huddersfield Town in July 2020 signalled a significant step forward, and 'Chicho' spent three years in West Yorkshire, working under Carlos Corberán, Danny Schofield, Mark Fotheringham and Neil Warnock, then joined Norwich City in May 2023 as a first-team coach, and helped the Canaries reach the 2023/24 Championship Play-Offs.
Those years from 2020-2024, a four-year period in which Pèlach learnt fluent English and gained a uniquely broad knowledge of how football operates in the United Kingdom, saw him land a role as head coach at Stoke City last September.
Having parted ways with the Potters in late December 2024, he was swiftly snapped up by another Potter - Graham Potter - following his appointment in early January, and now the 36-year-old is relishing the role he’s been readying for his entire life.
Here, we find out why Pèlach knew he wanted to pursue a career in coaching from an early age, his relationship with his 'role model' Potter, and his day-to-day role at Rush Green…
Narcís, tell us about your footballing journey from Girona FC to the Premier League…
“I started playing football in Girona, Spain, and played at their academy until I was 18. I went on loan to different clubs of the fourth tier in Spain and played football until I was 27, before something special happened to me.
“At the same club I was playing for at the time (UE Figueres), they offered me the chance to coach and to become the club’s manager, which was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse.
“I spent a couple of seasons there, then I went to Peralada-Girona B and stayed for two seasons before Girona offered me the chance to be the assistant coach to Juan Carlos Unzué in the first-team.
“I came to England during the COVID-19 pandemic and joined Carlos Corberán at Huddersfield, where I spent three years, and then joined Norwich City in the EFL Championship for one season. I went to Stoke City last September to try that adventure as a manager, and now I’m here at West Ham, and I’m delighted to be here.”
As you mentioned, you retired at the age of just 27. Did you always want to be a coach?
“I wanted to be a coach from a very young age. I knew that since I was 16 years old, and I was pretty clear about wanting to be a coach. I always wanted to organise the game and in the early ages of my life was thinking a lot about the game.
“My coaches convinced me to enjoy the role as a footballer, but inside me, I always knew that I wanted to be a coach. I was waiting for the right time, the right opportunity, and had achieved my coaching licences in preparation for an opportunity.
“It was a massive opportunity for me to become the head coach of UE Figueres, and I decided to go for it.”
Do you have a coaching hero?
“Pep Guardiola is my coaching hero. I was very lucky to have been given the chance to see some of the training sessions that he was doing at Manchester City, because City and Girona have the same ownership, so I could go there when I was a head coach of Girona B and learn from him.
“I just feel that he's the best coach that football has ever seen, and the number of trophies that he has won, I would say that it has been a reference for me.”
The dream became even bigger when you went to your hometown club, Girona B, which later saw you become the first-team assistant manager?
“It was an amazing experience, trying to help the club to get back to La Liga. That was our target, but things didn't go well unfortunately, and when they sacked Juan Carlos [Unzué], I decided to go out with him because I just was feeling as responsible as he was.
“He (Unzué) was influential on my career. He was the assistant coach of Pep Guardiola, who is my coaching hero, and Luis Enrique at FC Barcelona, and played the game as well at a very, very good level [for Barcelona, Sevilla, Tenerife and Osasuna].
“Prior to working with the first team at Girona, I was manager of the B team, and when he arrived, he told me that a number two was going to be good for me as well, to see the game from another perspective, because I was always number one previously. He told me being a number two was going to offer me the chance to learn more and to be in a role with a little bit less pressure.
“I’ve been a number two for most of my five years in the UK already, and it has given me the chance to see lots of managers. I’ve worked for eight managers so far, and it's a good thing for a young coach to see a lot and to see how they manage, how they coach, different methodologies and different styles.
“There’s been a lot of variety, and I’ve enjoyed my journey a lot, to be honest.”
You moved to England to join Huddersfield Town during COVID. How was that?
“It was very tough, I have to say. I was out of work for around nine months after we lost our jobs at Girona in October 2019. But when the opportunity to join Huddersfield came, it was a fantastic opportunity to come to England and work with Carlos Corberán.
“I have very big memories from Huddersfield, and I love the club, I love the people, and I just felt that it was amazing for me to be there.
“We got to the play-off final at Wembley, only to lose against Nottingham Forest, but it was a very, very big season for Huddersfield, because we were not expected to be there.
“Once Carlos resigned, I decided to stay there because I was in debt with them, and I just felt that it was not right for me to leave.
“I wanted to do at least one year more after such a big season, and subsequently I decided to stay there with Danny Schofield, Mark Fotheringham and finally Neil Warnock, which was a very difficult season for us, but having the chance to work with Neil Warnock, another legend of English football, was good.
“After the third season, I decided that my time was done and I couldn't offer anything more, so I decided to go to Norwich City and work for David Wagner.
“We got to the Play-Offs in 2023/24 but lost against Leeds United in that semi-final, though it was a very, very nice experience as a number two in the Championship.”
And then you became a manager again, at Stoke City?
“It had always been in my mind, and I know one day that I will come back to it again. Even knowing that didn't go the way I wanted, I'm going to try again 100% in the future.
“But for now I'm just very, very focused on what I have to do here. I enjoy my role; enjoying my coaching and being part of this project is amazing for me.
“I always wanted to try and be a manager in England, and when the opportunity came to join Stoke City, it was one that just felt right.
“I didn't want to live with the regret of not having tried it, so I just decided to step in and go and try it.
“There are lots of good things that I experienced in that moment, even knowing that I was sacked after four months. But life is about this, you know? If you fail, you learn, and this is how I felt about this experience, and I'm still very grateful as well to Stoke for giving me the chance to manage.”
After departing Stoke in December 2024, you were quickly taken in as part of Graham Potter’s coaching staff at West Ham. How exciting was that opportunity?
“It was really, really big for me. West Ham United is such a big Club, and we all know that club in Spain. And as a kid, we followed this Club.
“It was always in my mind and a dream for me to work in the Premier League, and I always felt that English football is ahead of everything. The Premier League, I would say, is the best league in the world.
“I couldn't speak English five years ago, so my development as well has been quick and has been very good.
“I'm very, very grateful to Graham Potter for bringing me here to West Ham, and I'm now learning a lot of new things from him.
“I think for my future as well, it's going to be key to be next to a top manager like he is, and for me, he is a role model to follow and is someone that is inspiring me a lot. I really appreciate the chance to be with him.”
Can you explain your day-to-day role at West Ham United?
“My main role is set-pieces now. I'm looking after the set plays to make sure that the team is organised offensively and defensively in corners, wide free kicks, throw-ins and all this kind of stuff.
“This season I'm also going to be in charge of helping the offensive players to perform and giving them some advice, giving them some corrections day-by-day and trying to improve their performances.
“I'm helping Bruno (Saltor), Billy (Reid) and all the staff in terms of methodology and in terms of training sessions to try to coach the players.
“I love analysis. I love to analyse the game, to watch the game, to see what the opponents are going to try to do to us, and, as well, how we can find a way to create goal-scoring chances.
“So I really enjoy that part of the week where I have to sit down and watch games and watch what the other teams can do to us or what we can do to them. So this has always been there; as a young coach, it’s one of the things that I enjoy the most.
“But then as well, I enjoy a lot being on the football pitch helping the players to develop.”
How’s your experience of West Ham United been so far?
“To be honest, it's a strange feeling, but it has been from the early first weeks; I felt at home very quickly.
“The relationship with the manager is great. The relationship with Bruno, Billy and Kyle (Macaulay) are also very good.
“It's good for me to be here working and be working with this amazing group of players and staff.
“I just feel at home. I'm enjoying the city, enjoying the league and enjoying being a part of this Club.
“Now we are just looking forward to trying to do something special this season.”
