Shaun Wane will leave Wigan at the end of the season after seven seasons in charge.
Wane has enjoyed over a 30-year association with the Warriors, having made his first-team debut in 1982. As a player he appeared 150 times for Wigan, putting in a man of the match display against Manly in the 1987 World Club Challenge.
He returned to the club in 1998 following the culmination of his playing career, starting as a scout and moving up the ranks before eventually becoming head coach in 2012. Since then, Wane has guided the club to Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield and World Club Challenge success, as well as two Super League Grand Final triumphs.
But he will depart at the end of the year to take up a new challenge, according to club chairman Ian Lenagan.
“Shaun Wane will leave Wigan Rugby League Club in the knowledge that his place in Wigan’s history is guaranteed.
“I feel certain that his decision to leave will have been a difficult one but he is a winner who wants to advance his career and challenge himself further on a different stage, having won everything with Wigan.
“He has developed from being a tough and uncompromising Rugby League prop in his playing days to become an equally tough and uncompromising Head Coach but with exceptional technical, tactical and player-motivational skills and a fearsome winning mentality.
“He has provided Wigan Rugby League Club with some memorable moments in the past six years and I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey that we have been on together. I have immense respect and admiration for Shaun as a Coach and would be delighted to see him sign off his 7th year as Wigan Head Coach with yet more trophies.”
Wane himself said: “Regrettably I have decided to announce my resignation as Head Coach of Wigan Warriors with the 2018 season being my last in charge. Throughout my playing and coaching career I have enjoyed unparalleled success in all areas.
“The town of Wigan and the Club will always remain special to me however I feel that now is the right time for me to seek a new challenge and direction in my professional career. As Head Coach, I have taken the Club to six major finals, winning three, given debuts to 37 players from the Wigan Academy and won a World Club Challenge, to name but a few.
“These accolades have given me both personal and professional satisfaction and the memories will remain with me evermore.”
