Stoke City

Image source, bbc

Stoke City's new Assistant Head Coach, Chris Cohen, says he can't wait to start working with Steven Schumacher.

It's not a new relationship that Cohen and Schumacher will have to forge as the pair did their Pro Licence together when coming through the coaching pathway.

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke, Cohen explained what he'll be bringing to the role:

"I like to focus on working with the individual, when I was a player I felt like my career, a lot of the time, was spent focusing on Saturday's result and not on development.

"Since I have moved into first teams over the last six years I've focused a lot of my time on individual and unit development, that then goes into full team practice."

Cohen will get to work with the squad when they return for pre-season training at the beginning of July and he says raring to go:

"I've watched a lot of their games and they had a fantastic end to the season, they've got some really good players here."

Cohen has previously worked alongside former Potters manager Nathan Jones. The Welshman was sacked after just nine months in charge at the bet365 Stadium, having won just six times in 38 games. However Cohen says Jones was full of praise for the football club:

"The relationship isn't what he [Jones] had hoped it would've been, but he only speaks very highly of the club, really highly of the fans and the owners.

"I spoke to him about coming in and he said you will absolutely love it there, there's so many good people."

Image source, getty

Stoke City First Team Coach Paul Gallagher has left his role with the club.

Gallagher, who had two loan spells with the Potters as a player joined the club's coaching staff last summer, and took charge as caretaker manager after the sacking of Alex Neil.

Stoke City Sporting Director Jonathan Walters said: “I wish to place on record the Club’s thanks to Paul for his work and dedication as part of our first team staff, and during his interim period in charge, last season.

“Having returned to Stoke City as a coach after previously enjoying success here as a player, Paul will rightly always receive a warm welcome from supporters when he returns to the bet365 Stadium in the future. Everyone connected with the Club wishes him all the very best.”

Image source, Stoke City

Ben Gibson has become Steven Schumacher's second signing of the summer after the defender's four year spell at Norwich City came to an end.

The 31-year-old who started his career at Middlesbrough has made more than 60 Premier League appearances and won two Championship promotions.

Gibson has been capped by England at Under-17, Under-18, Under-20 and Under-21 levels. In 2017 he was called-up to the senior squad by Gareth Southgate.

Sporting Director Jonathan Walters told the club's official site: “Successful teams need leaders, strong characters and experience and Ben gives us all three qualities in abundance.

“Beyond his contributions on the pitch, he sets high standards of himself and others, both on the training ground and off the pitch.

“Having won promotion from the second tier on several occasions during his career, Ben is well versed in knowing what it takes to be successful at this level."

On signing for the club, Gibson added: “Stoke City is a fantastic club, with lots of history, huge stature and I am looking forward to getting to work.

“I have played here, the atmosphere is fantastic and the fanbase speaks for itself.

“I want to be part of a team that brings the good times back to Stoke."

What do you think about this signing? Let us know here.

Image source, Getty

When you think about Stoke City’s history, Lou Macari is a name that stands out. As a manager, Macari's influence on the club has been significant.

Lou started his football career in Scotland with Celtic, quickly making a name for himself as a talented midfielder. He caught the eye of Manchester United, and in 1973 he made the move to Old Trafford.

But it was his time as a manager a Stoke City that made him a club legend amongst the Potters faithful.

When Macari took over as Stoke City’s manager in 1991, the club was struggling in the lower leagues. His arrival brought a sense of hope and determination. Macari's approach was straightforward but effective: focus on hard work, discipline, and spotting potential talent. He quickly began to turn things around at the Victoria Ground.

In his first season, Macari led Stoke to the Third Division play-offs, narrowly missing out on promotion but did guide the team to Wembley where they won the Autoglass Trophy final against Stockport County.

The 1992-93 season is one that Stoke City fans will never forget. Under Macari's leadership, the team won the Second Division title going on a 25 game unbeaten run and earning promotion to the First Division [Championship].

Macari’s impact reached beyond the pitch, he built a strong team spirit and a sense of unity that everyone bought into, it contributed to Macari becoming one of the most popular Stoke City managers.

In recent years, Lou has been a key figure in the Stoke-on-Trent community. He founded the Macari Centre in Stoke-on-Trent, which provides shelter and support for the homeless.

Image source, Getty

Stoke City's player of the season, Bae Junho, made an immediate impact in his senior international debut, scoring 10 minutes after coming off the bench.

Junho came on in the 70th minute during a World Cup qualifier against Singapore and wasted no time in making his mark.

The 20-year-old latched onto a cut-back from Park Seung-wook, firing the ball into the net to make it 6-0 for South Korea.

The team ran out 7-0 winners, securing their five-point lead at the top of second round qualifying Group C.

This win confirms South Korea's spot in the final preliminary round of the qualification process and ensures their participation in the 2027 Asian Cup.

Their next match is against China at home on Tuesday.

Image source, getty

Sporting director Jon Walters wants to end the Stoke “graveyard” as he looks to reshape the club.

Stoke are facing a seventh straight season in the Championship and have never finished above 14th since relegation from the Premier League in 2018.

The Potters are investing £10-12m for a new building for the first team with the women and Academy taking over a revamped version of the existing site.

It is the club’s biggest investment, which is due to start in September, in a single development since the bet365 Stadium was built in 1997.

Stoke finished 17th in the Championship last season, having replaced Alex Neil with Steven Schumacher in December – their fifth manager in just under five years.

Walters said: “It’s been a graveyard for players and managers, we’ve not done well in the last few years. Let’s be honest about it, we have underperformed in the last seven years. Where have we finished? It’s frustrating from the outside to watch but now I’m inside the building it’s my job to change that.

You have to do it properly.

“You can’t just throw £10m at a player. What if he gets injured or goes in a year? You have to build the foundations properly. If you put a cardboard house up it’ll fall down straight away so you have to put everything in place.

“The new building has been passed and hopefully it’ll start in September. I was here when we moved into Portakabins.”

Walters made his first major appointment this week with Lee Darnbrough joining from Hull as head of recruitment, following the exit of Jared Dublin last month.

“He was almost the sporting director in situ at Hull, with what he did with Liam (Rosenior) there,” said Walters. “He brings experience in the domestic and international market. He will have a lot more knowledge in that area and he will be able to push me. He is the right person, the right character to have in. He wants to grow himself. He is the perfect person.”

Defender Ben Gibson is expected to join the Potters after his release from Norwich while former team-mate Sam McCallum remains of interest to Stoke, with the defender available on a free transfer following his exit from the Canaries.

Image source, Stoke City

Stoke City will spend up to £12m on their biggest project in 30 years.

The multi-million pound investment into The Potters’ Clayton Wood training ground is due to start in September and will take around 12 months to complete.

It’ll be Stoke’s biggest outlay on a single project since the building of the Bet365 Stadium in 1997. It’ll mean improved facilities for the men’s first team, academy and women’s team.

Vice-Chairman Richard Smith said: “This development is massive for Stoke City, both in terms of scope and importance.

“Once complete, it will elevate our first team facilities to among the best in the Championship and make them fit for Premier League football.

Image source, Getty

Stoke City have revealed further details on their summer training programme.

Steven Schumacher's squad will fly to Ireland and spend a week-long training camp in Cork starting from Saturday, July 13 which will include a game against Cork City on July 17.

Prior to that, the Potters will go to Chester on Thursday, July 11 (KO 19:45 BST).

The pre-season schedule will also see them take on their Cheshire neighbours Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday, July 23 (KO 19:30 BST).

The Potters then face last season's League Two winners Stockport County on Saturday, July 27, with the match to be played over two 60-minute halves (KO 14:00 BST).

Stoke will then travel to Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday, July 30 (KO 19:30 BST).

A final pre-season fixture has yet to be confirmed at the bet365 Stadium on the weekend of Saturday, August 3.

Image source, Getty

Bae Junho has stolen the hearts of Stoke City fans far and wide.

After winning the club's player of the year award we asked you how highly you rated the South Korean forward? This is what you told us:

Phillip - Stoke should put a price tag on of £100m. Too often players like him get stolen for peanuts. Up the Potters

Steve - Vital ! He has pace and that unpredictability outside the penalty area which defenders find difficult to deal with. His weaving runs from the halfway line get supporters off their seats. On his day a real crowd pleaser.

Adrian - Simply put... pivotal.

Mark - A player unlikely to make much of a career so best just leave him at Stoke. Nothing to see here at all.

Do you agree? Let us know here.