Stoke City have parted ways with head coach Steven Schumacher following their 1-0 loss to Oxford United in the Championship on Saturday. The defeat was Stoke’s third of the season, leaving them in 13th place with just two wins from five matches. Schumacher’s time at Stoke lasted just nine months after he left Plymouth Argyle to take the reins in December.
Sporting director Jon Walters explained that the decision was made for the “long-term interests” of the club, though he acknowledged the difficulty of the move. Former Crewe boss Alex Morris and ex-captain Ryan Shawcross, now an under-21s coach, will take over on a caretaker basis, with their first match coming up in the EFL Cup against Fleetwood.
Schumacher led Stoke to a 17th-place finish last season, but despite a promising start this term with wins over Plymouth and Middlesbrough, the Potters struggled for consistency. His record included 13 wins and 13 losses from 32 games, during a period of significant transition for the club, which saw 19 players leave and 12 new signings arrive.
Schumacher had been regarded as one of the most promising young managers in English football after guiding Plymouth to the League One title in 2023 with 101 points. Stoke are now in search of a new manager as they aim to stabilize their form in a challenging Championship season.
