Bradford Bulls have made the shock appointment of Brian Noble as their new head coach for 2025 after the exit of Eamon O’Carroll.
In a massive turn-up for the books, Bradford have opted to go back in time and hand their legendary head coach the role for 2025 with first team coach Lee Greenwood serving as an assistant.
Noble last coached the Bulls in 2006 after leading them for 180 games and to a Super League title before he made the switch to Wigan Warriors.
Now, 18 years after he last coached the club, he is back in a majorly shocking announcement given that the 63-year-old has not coached in over a decade with his last gig being as Salford Red Devils coach in 2014.
The club would confirm his appointment via a statement which confirmed: “Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce the appointment of Brian Noble as the club’s Head Coach for the 2025 season.”
Bradford Bulls make shock head coach appointment
The club statement continued: “Noble will take to the reins as Head Coach for a second time following a trophy-laden spell in the early 2000s – and he will be supported by First Team Coach Lee Greenwood who has signed a contract extension for 2025 to remain at the club.
“A hugely popular figure on the terraces at Odsal, Noble was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame in 2021 following his stellar career representing the club in a playing and coaching capacity.
“Brian returned to the Bulls as a consultant in 2023 before temporarily stepping up to work alongside Lee Greenwood for an interim period and will now look to build on successive third place finishes heading into next season.”
Noble’s appointment comes after previous head coach Eamon O’Carroll stepped away to take up a role with a Super League side and the most recent update from the Bulls chairman was that they had expressions of interest from all around the world.
Despite that, they’ve gone back to their former coach in Noble with the 63-year-old having served as a consultant at the club in recent years.
During his first spell at Odsal, Noble coached the Bulls to three Super League titles, three World Club Challenges, two League Leaders Shields and one Challenge Cup.
He would also coach Great Britain during his time at Bradford before taking on the Wigan job. In recent years, he has worked on the BBC as a pundit for the sport, including as recently as this past weekend when he commentated on the England versus Samoa game.