An unfamiliar face was spotted during Sheffield Wednesday’s FA Cup victory over Cardiff City.
Danny Rohl has completely overhauled the backroom staff at Sheffield Wednesday, after a disastrous spell for Xisco Munoz left the club heading straight back down to League One.
The German coach has welcomed the likes of Chris Powell and Sascha Lense to Hillsborough, all of whom have played a key part in the recent success that The Owls have found in the Championship.
But when Rohl called for his staff members to take to the pitch and be applauded following the win over Cardiff, many fans spotted a ‘very important’ and ‘unfamiliar’ face – as per journalist Alex Miller.
Richard Stirrup, the club’s first team performance analyst, has recently taken up a place in the dugout alongside the manager, having previously been based with a ‘bird’s eye view’ in the South Stand.
This is due to Rohl’s admiration for his work, with the 34-year-old desperate to incorporate more analysis into matches.
The Star has claimed that Rohl has ‘beefed up’ the analysis staff on a match-day, with Stirrup’s work drawn up and shown to coaches and players at half-time.
Who is Richard Stirrup?
Richard Stirrup was previously a semi-professional football, most notably playing alongside Leicester City striker, Jamie Vardy, during his time at Stocksbridge Park Steels Football Club. Stirrup also played for Sheffield FC, Belper Town FC and Balmain Tigers FC in Australia.
According to Stirrup’s LinkedIn page, after retiring from his playing career, he has spent a large chunk of his time with Sheffield Wednesday.
Initially an Academy Coach between 2009 and 2012, Stirrup eventually returned to Hillsborough as an Academy Performance Analysis Intern in 2017.
He was quickly promoted to First Team Opposition Analyst the following year, while he has now claimed the title of First Team Head of Performance Analysis since July 2022.
Some of his role details include…
• To provide strategic analysis to the technical coaching department and ensuring all players receive optimal player preparation and service support.
• Closely support the management staff and players on match days.
• Create seasonal databases from each live coded matchday.
• Deliver key performance analysis presentations on opposing teams to both the coaching staff and players.
• Create training analysis templates that coincide with the management teams playing style and coaching methods.
• To create a consistent level of elite analysis that increases the success of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.
• Efficiently communicate with the club’s Academy staff to aid in the transition and development of the club’s u23’s players understanding of the first team environment and playing ethos.