Xisco Munoz has refreshed the Sheffield Wednesday coaching staff since replacing Darren Moore as the Owls’ latest manager. So, who features amongst the Spaniard’s backroom team at Hillsborough?
Sheffield Wednesday manager: Xisco Munoz
Dejphon Chansiri, Sheffield Wednesday’s owner, named Xisco as the Owls’ manager in July 2023 to replace Moore. The Hillsborough natives had parted with Moore just 21 days after he led the club to promotion to the Championship. Sheffield Wednesday beat Barnsley in the League One play-off final.
Xisco’s arrival at Sheffield Wednesday added prior experience of promotion into the Premier League to Hillsborough. He took Watford into the top-flight in 2021 as the Championship runners-up after an impressive run. The Spaniard took over in December 2020 and won 18 of his 27 second-tier matches.
Sheffield Wednesday coaching staff
Assistant manager: Miguel Munoz
Xisco refreshed the coaching staff at Sheffield Wednesday upon becoming the Owls’ head coach with his brother, Miguel Munoz, joining as their new assistant manager. The siblings had previously worked together at Watford. While Miguel has had spells at SD Huesca, Valencia and Gimnastic de Tarragona.
First-team coach: Roberto Cuesta Roman
Roberto Cuesta Roman joined the Sheffield Wednesday coaching staff in July 2023 in a reunion with Xisco. He first worked as the Spaniard’s assistant at Dinamo Tbilisi in 2020 before following the coach to Watford. While Roman has also enjoyed spells with Fundacion Marcet and NK Istra 1961 previously.
Goalkeeper coach: Antonello Brambilla
Sheffield Wednesday accepted Xisco’s request to name Antonello Brambilla as their new goalkeeper coach. The Italian replaced Adriano Basso in the position, who left with Moore, Jamie Smith, Jimmy Shan and Simon Ireland. Brambilla most recently worked at Marseille during 2022 under Igor Tudor.
Xisco first forged connections with Brambilla at Watford in 2020 as the Vimercate native had moved to Vicarage Road earlier that year. He joined the Hornets under Vladimir Ivic and remained there through Claudio Ranieri and Roy Hodgson’s tenures. He has also worked with Sampdoria and Cagliari Calcio.
Performance manager: Miguel Gomila
Xisco completed his inaugural coaching staff at Sheffield Wednesday in July 2023 with Miguel Gomila taking the role of performance manager. His move to Hillsborough reunited the coach with the Owls’ manager after working together with Huesca. Gomila last worked for CD Manacor until January 2023.
Club doctor: Richard Higgins
Richard Higgins has worked in Sheffield Wednesday’s coaching staff since February 1998 with various roles. He has also worked as the lead sports physician for the north with the English Institute of Sport since February 2003. The physician also served as a medical advisor for the EFL during the pandemic.
Head physio: Antonio Quintela
Sheffield Wednesday hired Antonio Quintela as a physiotherapist in July 2017 before later promoting the Portuguese to the role of head physio. He had worked as a physiotherapist at FC Porto during the previous seven years. He has also worked for the Handball Federation of Portugal and as a professor.
Quintela and club doctor Higgins work with an array of sports scientists and physiotherapists among Sheffield Wednesday’s coaching staff. The Owls’ medical department further includes Rob Lee, Chris Brealey, Adam Yates, Ben Parker, Paul Teather and Dominic Millward to keep the first-team squad fit.
First-team head of performance analysis: Richard Stirrup
Moore adapted Sheffield Wednesday’s coaching staff in July 2022 with Richard Stirrup assuming the role of first-team head of performance analysis. The Sheffield native has worked with the Owls since June 2018 after taking on the position of first-team opposition analyst and later of first-team analyst.
Stirrup actually returned to the Owls to become their first-team opposition analyst after nine months away. He had earlier worked as a coach for Sheffield Wednesday’s academy from 2009 to 2012 after his playing scholarship expired. He also returned in 2017 as an academy performance analysis intern.
First-team analyst: Liam Bracken
Liam Bracken first joined Sheffield Wednesday’s coaching staff in June 2018 after leaving his position at Sheffield United. He arrived as their academy performance analyst before becoming their head of academy performance analysis in November 2020 and first-team performance analyst in June 2021.
Data and research analyst: Charlie Green
Sheffield Wednesday gave Charlie Green his first position in football in October 2019 as a volunteer recruitment analysis assistant. He held the role until August 2021 when the Owls awarded him a full-time position. He became a data and research analyst after graduating from Leeds Beckett University.