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The favourites to become new Plymouth Argyle manager has been revealed with Steven Schumacher leaving the club for Stoke City.
The 39 year old has left the Pilgrims for fellow Championship outfit Stoke City with a compensation package was agreed with Argyle, as they now look to appoint a new manager.
Schumacher comes in to replace Alex Neil, who was sacked by the Potters on the 10th of December.
Stoke currently sit 19th with 23 points from 22 games while Plymouth are 16th with 26 points from the same amount of games played.
Club Statement: Steven Schumacher#pafc
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) December 19, 2023
PLYMOUTH STATEMENT:
Argyle can confirm that Steven Schumacher has today left the club to pursue a new opportunity with Sky Bet Championship rival, Stoke City.
Schumacher departs after four-and-a-half years with the club, two as Manager, and will go down as an Argyle great after overseeing one of the finest seasons in the club’s history.
The 39-year-old led Argyle to the Sky Bet League One title last season and has overseen a solid start to the Championship campaign with the side sitting in 16th place.
Schumacher now departs for the Potteries and, although disappointed, Chairman Simon Hallett and the Argyle Board have offered the outgoing manager their best wishes.
Hallett commented: “We are naturally sorry to lose a manager of Steven’s potential, but he has decided to take a new role that he sees as the next step in his career.
“Work is already under way to find a suitable replacement to lead this great football club forward.
“We have made great strides over the last few years in ensuring that we have an organisation and a football philosophy that can withstand a change in personnel.
“The result has been a style of football that I and all fans have enjoyed watching, and which will continue.
“We are intent on Argyle becoming synonymous for exciting football and for continuity. We will ensure that whomever we appoint continues these principles moving forward.
“I would like to thank Steven for his hard work, dedication, and success during his time with Argyle and I’m sorry that he won’t be with us as we work to deliver our new mission.”
Assistant Manager Mark Hughes, First-Team Coach Peter Cavanagh and Goalkeeper Coach Darren Behcet will also depart the club.
Director of Football Neil Dewsnip and First-team Coach Kevin Nancekivell will take charge of first-team duties in the interim until a suitable replacement for Schumacher has been found.
We will be making no further comment at this stage.
Schumacher’s at the wheel.
The warmest of Stoke City welcomes to our new Head Coach, Steven Schumacher.
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) December 19, 2023
STOKE STATEMENT:
Steven Schumacher has been appointed as the new Head Coach of Stoke City.
The man who guided Plymouth Argyle to promotion to the Championship last season has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with the Potters.
He will be joined at the bet365 Stadium by Assistant Head Coach Mark Hughes, First Team Coach Peter Cavanagh and Goalkeeper Coach Darren Behcet.
“I was attracted to this club by its history and everything it represents and, once John (Coates) and Ricky (Martin) shared their vision with me, I knew it was an opportunity I wanted to take,” said the 39-year-old.
“The infrastructure, the stadium and the facilities are top-class, and so is the support of the fans.
“The values that resonate with me for a Stoke City team are bravery and hard work, coupled with a desire to play attacking football and be a team our supporters can connect with.
“We have the players to do that and, if we can get back to a point where the bet365 Stadium is thought of as a tough venue to visit, we can really get it rocking again.”
Winner of the League One Manager of the Year accolade last season, Schumacher led Argyle to promotion as champions having narrowly missed out on the playoffs the previous year.
Their victorious 22/23 campaign saw them win 31 of 46 league games, finish on 101 points and score 86 goals.
Chairman John Coates said: “We are delighted to welcome Steven, who we firmly believe to be one of the most exciting young coaches in the country, to Stoke City.
“Steven will quickly realise that he is joining a great club, with a loyal and passionate fanbase, and one with all the potential to fulfil his ambitions in the game.
“He can rely on the absolute support of us all and we wish him all the very best in the role.”
Stoke City’s Technical Director Ricky Martin added: “It was hugely important for our recruitment process to be thorough, but also efficient, so to be announcing our new Head Coach within nine days is a pleasing result for everyone involved.
“We assessed all candidates against criteria ranging from results’ record and playing style to developing young players and leadership qualities both on and off the pitch.
“Both in terms of how he articulated his ideas and philosophy, and how his words were backed up by the data, Steven was the outstanding candidate for the role.
“His hunger and ambition were expertly articulated and clear for us to see, and we are delighted to welcome him to Stoke City.
“We are hugely thankful to Paul Gallagher for fulfilling the role of Caretaker Manager – together with his support team of Jonathan Gould, Alex Morris and Ryan Shawcross – during our previous two fixtures.
“Paul remains a key part of our setup as a First Team Coach moving forward, while Alex and Ryan have returned to their positions with our Under 21s.
“Jonathan, together with Lead Analyst Charlie Ager, have left the Club with our sincere thanks for their efforts in their respective roles.”
FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW PLYMOUTH MANAGER
Paddy Power – 18th Dec – 8pmSteve Cotterill 5/1Nathan Jones 6/1Gary Rowett 8/1John Eustace 8/1Tony Mowbray 10/1Alex Neil 10/1
BetVictor – 19th Dec – 1:30pmLeighton Baines – 7/4Steve Cotterill – 5/1Nathan Jones – 6/1John Eustace – 8/1Tony Mowbray – 10/1Michael Duff – 12/1Nigel Pearson – 12/1Gary Rowett – 12/1Alex Neil – 12/1
BetVictor – 19th Dec – 3pmLeighton Baines – 4/6Steve Cotterill – 5/1Nathan Jones – 6/1John Eustace – 8/1Michael Duff – 12/1Dick Schreuder – 12/1Nigel Pearson – 16/1Neil Warnock – 16/1Tony Mowbray – 20/1Gary Rowett – 20/1Alex Neil – 20/1
Ex-Everton player Leighton Baines is, as of writing (19th December) the strong favourite to replace Steven Schumacher at Plymouth having seen his odds go from 7/4 to 4/6 within hours to leave his role managing the under 18s at the Everton academy, while having no first team managerial experience.
As per Oddschecker’s Leon Blackman, via Plymouth Live: “With Steven Schumacher’s departure from Plymouth to Stoke looking ever more likely, the focus shifts as to who may replace him at Home Park.
“It is a surprising name that is the overwhelming favourite with bookmakers as things stand. Everton legend Leighton Baines, who currently manages the u18s at the Toffees, is the odds-on favourite at 4/6. Considering he was 7/4 earlier on today, a shift to odds-on at such an early stage of the betting implies that he is certainly in the running for the role.”
Leighton Baines:Everton U18sFormation – 4-3-3Matches – 37W – 11D – 10L – 16Goals – 61:66Points – 43PPM – 1.16
This is how fans reacted as the favourites to become new Plymouth manager are revealed with Steven Schumacher leaving for Stoke…
@callum1512_: Club Legend , but hope he fails miserably. Enjoy the money for 12 months before your sacked
@GreenArmy46: Thanks for everything but really hope you fail 🐀
@olpafc_: Thanks for the memories, but here’s to us finishing above you this season 🍻
@SeanLyness24: Luton fan here. Nathan Jones left us twice and we got promoted both seasons. The structures and practices Plymouth have in place will mean your club will keep on rising, like we did.
@need_coffee_now: So he’s gone and taken the coaching team with him? No statement to the fans? Schumacher is Hollowords 2.0 and hopefully Stoke will go the same way Leicester did that season
@pafctom97: Thanks for what you did. But leaving for the money. Hope he fails and gets relegated or sacked
@cameron_pickard: It’s his job. Of course he’s leaving for the money 🙄 what a strange thing to say.
@Greenarmy: Those of us old enough to remember the sour taste left behind by a certain Mr Holloway are getting a whiff of deja vu. Nice words count for nothing in football these days it would seem #pafc
@eozjls2810: Such a shame he’s done Argyle so well to get them into the championship but guess we move on, onwards and upwards we are the Green Army we move forward 💚 Green Army
@davidmitch37: I don’t support either club but this doesn’t seem to be a particularly upward move career-wise. That said, if he’s getting more money that’s a good reason to at least think about moving jobs for most people yet somehow in football it’s frowned upon?
@joblanchard42: Ta dah. Thanks for the League, no one stays forever, no one is loyal and that works both ways – well only the fans! 💚
@PL23DQ: Well that’s that then. Thanks for some great memories but you’ve ripped the heart out of the club. We backed you 100% as well.
@JonSuperIpswich: Genuinely shocked at this, did a brilliant job for PAFC, played the game the right way with a talented squad. Stoke is a manager’s graveyard and I predict will finish below PAFC.
@dharvey4: Hope you stay up, I thought you played well at our place, I’ve seen worse teams this season who you should finish above
@StevieWotsa: Life is but a dream sweetheart take care and good luck. Time for a new chapter 💚
@CarlBarnard15: Glad it’s all over now and we can move on. Next appointment has to be on point. Gutted it’s happened now and to a team like Stoke, with him being linked to Sunderland or even West Brom those moves would have been more desirable. Big atmosphere needed on Saturday now. #pafc
@Argyle_Attic: Saturdays huge. Atmosphere will be crazy cause of the sacking. #pafc
@Sam____93: Hallett… ‘We are naturally sorry to lose a manager of Steven’s potential’ -can’t help but think that this quote is significant- a reminder to Schumacher that he is far from the finished article, and won’t have the security from a club who will allow him to make mistakes #pafc
@callum1512_: Dewsnip staying is the best thing out of this situation. In Dewsnip and Hallett we trust
@freddieutb: got to feel bad for plymouth here, long term project and managers gone just as they’ve got into the swing of things
@Tillerpop: Should have made him pay for his copy of the book! Gutted about this, he has been such a big part of an amazing few years…
@ArgyleLoz: It’s official, Steven Schumacher has left us for Stoke City. We gave him his first chance in management, there is no loyalty in football, but i met Steven, he is a lovely, personable chap and i wish him well. Thanks for the memories Schuey, my love for @Argyle is forever #pafc..
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