Huddersfield confirm appointment of Siewert … with help from lookalike!

Twenty four hours after he was catapulted to fame when he was mistaken for Huddersfield Town’s new head coach, Martin Warhurst was back in the limelight on Monday as the chief executive of the Martin House hospice in Wetherby helped to announce the appointment of his doppelganger, Jan Siewert.

“Yes it’s Martin from Wakefield,” began Warhurst in a video released on social media by the club. “Oh you must have seen it? It was announced on Sky.”

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Bearing more than a passing resemblance to Siewert, who has replaced David Wagner at the Premier League’s bottom club, ‘Martin from Wakefield’ became a household name when Sky approached him for an interview during the defeat to Manchester City on Sunday thinking he was the Borussia Dortmund reserves coach. But while also relatively unknown outside of his homeland, Huddersfield chairman Dean Hoyle revealed he had been tracking the 36-year-old German since he was assistant manager and Under-19 coach at VfL Bochum.

“We first spoke with him over two years ago and we’ve kept in communication since, watching his progress with interest,” said Hoyle. “He has turned down several approaches to leave Borussia Dortmund in the past, but he jumped at the opportunity to join us. He believes in our ethos and likes what he knows about Huddersfield Town, which made me very proud.”

A former player in the German lower leagues, Siewert turned to coaching in 2009 and has had spells as assistant coach of the German Under-17 and Under-18 sides. But, like Wagner, who moved to Huddersfield in 2015 after four years working under Jürgen Klopp, it is his success with Dortmund that have sealed his reputation as one of Germany’s best emerging young coaches having reportedly turned down an approach from Queens Park Rangers last summer.

“What was also very clear was that Jan believes in this club and what can be achieved here,” said Hoyle. “In the short-term, we will continue to fight as hard as possible against relegation from the Premier League. We’re not giving up on that.

“We will also plan for the medium and long-term, whatever the outcome. Jan is committed to us and is excited to take on the challenges we have ahead, whatever they look like. He added: “I’m so excited about this appointment. Our last three-and-a-half years have been unbelievable, but now we look to the future under a new head coach desperate to be a success at our club.”

Siewert’s immediate task will be attempt to end a 10-match winless streak in the Premier League that has left Huddersfield 10 points from safety. As for Martin from Wakefield, it’s back to the day job.