Henrik Pedersen explains why he took on ‘very difficult’ Sheffield Wednesday job despite crisis

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Danny Rohl’s successor at Sheffield Wednesday, Henrik Pedersen, has a mountain to climb in his first season in charge of the Owls.

Henrik Pedersen has been a figure at Sheffield Wednesday since joining as assistant coach to Danny Rohl.

After Rohl’s exit from Sheffield Wednesday, Pedersen has been given the top job by owner Dejphon Chansiri to spearhead the Owls in the 2025/26 Championship campaign.

Unfortunately for the Dane, his promotion at Hillsborough is tainted by the club’s ongoing financial crisis, which has made his task as head coach an extremely difficult one.

Ahead of the opening weekend clash at Leicester City tomorrow, during which Sheffield Wednesday fans will protest against Chansiri, Pedersen has lifted the lid on why he took the top job despite the Owls’ ongoing financial crisis.

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Henrik Pedersen reveals why he took Sheffield Wednesday job

Pedersen is poised to endure one of the hardest jobs in English football, let alone in the Championship, this season, with the Owls squad threadbare and the club in dire financial straits.

After Barry Bannan signed a new contract with Leicester fast approaching, Pedersen is unsure if Bannan can play for Sheffield Wednesday or not, given that the Owls cannot register players who have signed new contracts.

Ahead of Wednesday’s afternoon clash at the King Power Stadium, Pedersen has made an honest admission about why he took on the Sheffield Wednesday head coach role despite the turbulence in S6.

When asked why he took on such a “very difficult” job, Pedersen told Football Heaven: “Good question.

“I’ve been a part of this club now for nearly two years, and since I arrived here together with Danny (Rohl), I have really, really enjoyed this journey.

“There are more levels for me, the daily work with the coaches, with the players, with all the staff, it has been fantastic for me.

“To come to the stadium, to meet people in the city, all the fans, it’s a fantastic club.

“And then privately, my wife and my two kids love to stay here, my two boys love to be at school here, they love to play football here.

“So there was a lot of reasons, and then most important, to do something great for Sheffield Wednesday in the future. I have a lot of reasons to say yes.”

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Henrik Pedersen has hardest job in Championship with Sheffield Wednesday

Pedersen will have to call on his years of experience in footballing coaching this season to help guide the Owls to safety from League One relegation.

The Dane has had several stints as first team manager so far in his career, after spells as boss of HB Koge, Eintracht Braunschweig, Stromsgodset, and Viby FF.

Sheffield Wednesday players fully respect Pedersen, and are understood to be content with him being chosen as Rohl’s successor.

Pedersen signed a new contract earlier this summer, which shows there is clear faith in him from the Owls board.

Given the club’s crisis in every department, Pedersen will need to keep that faith throughout what will be an arduous second tier season for Sheffield Wednesday.