One of Sheffield Wednesday’s lesser-known coaches has been hailed for his influence on how things are done at Middlewood Road, with club captain Barry Bannan opening up about his’mad’ attitude.
Danish coach Henrik Pedersen left his managing post at Vendsyssel FF to become one of Danny Röhl’s right-hand men at S6. He acts as a significant voice behind the scenes, providing a link between players and management while also taking several sessions personally. When a rollicking is required, Pedersen is usually the man to provide it.
When questioned about the 46-year-old in an interview with The Star, club captain Barry Bannan burst out laughing when asked to define Pedersen’s approach, but made it obvious that the Dane is an amazing operator and an extension of the manager he calls the finest he’s ever worked for.
“He’s a bit mad!” Bannan chuckled. “He shouts a lot, but he is fantastic in terms of coaching and tactical ability, and he can also have a good laugh. He has a little bit of everything, but his tactical ability is incredible. He’s pretty outspoken on the training pitch and participates in a lot of sessions.
“Tactically, he gives these insane tiny hints for building up with the ball and whatnot. You’ll be on the pitch, and something will happen that will remind you of what he predicted will happen. He does an excellent job and is also a charming man, which is an added plus. He’s a great man to have; he’s really enthusiastic.”
Röhl and Pedersen have a long history, having both grown up in the Red Bull organization; nonetheless, this is the first time the two have worked on the same coaching staff. The senior guy was twice a coach at Red Bull Salzburg’s ill-fated junior setup and also coached Red Bull Ghana for six years under the energy drink-headed firm. He has managed HB Køge, Eintracht Braunschweig, and Strømsgodset, and previously worked as an assistant manager at Union Berlin under Jens Keller.
“He is a big part of my side with the tactical things and he has known me and my football for 10 years, this is important,” Röhl was quoted as saying by The Star. “It’s not like starting from scratch; he knows me. We’ve known each other for a long time, but this is our first time working together, so everything is new for us.
“He expects a lot from his players, but this is what I expect from my assistants; I have diverse personalities in my coaches, and I believe it makes our group extremely powerful. If you have the same profiles around you, guys who just say ‘Yes, yes, yes’, it is ineffective. You need to have that talk with yourself from time to time, and Henrik is the one who will come and confront me in the coaching room. He provides us a lot, and he knows how to speak to players personally and provide them with a clear image.
“Each coach has responsible for training. It’s not that I always take things; they have the opportunity to progress and become a member of my team. This is a strength; we’re all on the same page, and we all accept responsibility for different roles.”
