Schofield excited by prospect of working with knowledgable coach Corberan
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN are close to appointing Carlos Corberan as their new head coach – and he is set to be confirmed later this week.
The Terriers have been in talks with the highly-regarded Leeds United under-23s coach since the early part of the week.
Compensation is understood to have been agreed and an announcement is likely to be made later this week once the Championship commitments of both clubs are completed.
Corberan, 37, is keen to strike out on his own as a senior head coach after running United’s under-23 side and additionally working as a first-team coach under Marcelo Bielsa.
The Leeds head coach confirmed Huddersfield’s offer to Corberan at his pre-match press conference yesterday.
He said: “I do not have any responsibility for the promotion of Carlos within our staff. When I had a meeting in Buenos Aires with Victor (Orta) and Andrea (Radrizzani), Carlos was there as well.
“Carlos was promoted by Victor, agreed with the owner, and I accepted it even though I did not know him, but he was a very important colleague for us.
“If you hear the praise given to my colleagues, you will see it is not exaggerated, like Carlos Corberan being chosen by a Championship team who a year ago were in the Premier League to be their first-team manager. That proves what I am saying.”
Huddersfield – who sacked Danny Cowley on Sunday – end their campaign at Millwall this evening, with elite development coach Danny Schofield in caretaker charge, assisted by head of goalkeeping Paul Clements, academy coach Jon Worthington and experienced centre-back Tommy Elphick.
Corberan is someone who Schofield knows well from his time as a professional phase development coach at Leeds and Town caretaker is fulsome in his praise of the 37-year-old.
The Valencian, whose Leeds under-23 side won the Professional Development League in 2018-19, turned down the chance to manage Spanish side Cultural Leonesa last year.
The Segunda División B outfit are part of the Qatar-based Aspire Academy that United have an official partnership with.
Schofield said: “He (Corberan) is someone with vast experience and a coach with good knowledge who studies the game quite a lot. A lot of other coaches can learn from him.
“The journey he has been on in coaching can bring vast experience to a club. Like any typical manager, he is a strong character and has a good idea of how he wants to play and his certain methods and will instill some ideas to create an identity.”
Meanwhile, Schofield progressed to being surprised at the axing of Cowley on Sunday, with the former Town midfielder having had a ‘whirlwind last few days’ since.
The 40-year-old said: “I think everyone was quite surprised. I found out on the Sunday and it was very sudden and things changed very quickly after that.
“It has been a very whirlwind last few days and very unexpected. I got the phone call to go and speak with the owner and sporting director and agreed to take the last two sessions and last game against Millwall.”
The Lions are one of Schofield’s former clubs – having spent two years there as a player.
On returning to the New Den, he said: “It is unbelievable who things work out sometimes.
“I had a great couple of seasons at Millwall and some great memories and met some really good people, It will be nice to go back, albeit with no fans in the stadium.”
Last six games: Millwall DWLWWL; Huddersfield WDDLDW.
Referee: K Stroud (Hants).
Last time: Millwall 1 Huddersfield 3, February 7, 2015; Championship.