The appointment of Ian Burchnall as head coach will have left some Notts County scratching their heads, asking “who?”.
But the 38-year-old has an impressive coaching record, with Notts describing him as “one of football’s most exciting young coaches”.
Here’s what we know about the new Magpies boss:
Leicester to Norway, via West Yorkshire
Leicester-born Burchnall has coached in the academies at Leeds United and Bradford City.
But it is in Scandinavian football where he has made his name.
Burchnall’s first senior role came as assistant to former Sheffield United striker Brian Deane at Norwegian side Sarpsborg in 2012.
He then took the same job at Viking FK before becoming their manager in 2017.
Super in Sweden
Burchnall then took his career to Sweden, being named Ostersund FK manager when Graham Potter left to join Brighton.
Despite losing a number of key players, Burchnall guided Ostersund to sixth place in the Swedish top-flight, just below where they had finished in Potter’s final season at the club.
After two years at the helm, Burchnall left Ostersund last summer.
Just missing out on the Iceland job
With his stock in the region high, Burchnall was considered for Iceland job late last year.
Burchnall was on the shortlist until Football Association of Iceland (KSI) chose to promote Under-21 boss Arnar Vioarsson to replace Erik Hamren, with ex-Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen as his assistant.
Chairman of KSI, Gudni Bergsson, admitted he was impressed by Burchnall.
“He is a man of the future and has achieved remarkable results,” the former Bolton and Tottenham defender told radio show Dr Football.
Former Nottingham Forest and England boss Steve McClaren was also considered for the Iceland job.
