Mark Hughes has made a remarkable return to management with League Two side Bradford City.
It is the former Wales, Manchester City and Stoke manager’s first role since leaving Southampton in 2018.
The 58-year-old’s decision comes as a major shock, with the Welshman having never previously managed outside the Premier League at club level.
Indeed, Hughes has managed the seventh-highest total of Premier League fixtures in history, eight times leading a side into the top 10, including taking Blackburn into the top six and three successive ninth-place finishes at Stoke.
But after a short stint at St Mary's, he had been unable to land a top-flight job. Now, he drops down to the fourth tier, signing a deal at Valley Parade until 2024.
Hughes said: “I am really pleased to be here and am looking forward to the role, and the job in hand. It has been an exciting few days.
“It is maybe a little bit of a surprise that I have come in, but do not be put off by that! I am here for a reason: to make Bradford City a team people want to come and watch - and are proud to watch.
“The supporters come in their numbers, and that is the thing I have missed since being out of management.
"I am looking forward to the matchday, getting that adrenaline flowing and interacting with the crowd.
“Certainly, from now until the end of the year, we just want to finish strongly and see where that takes us.
“We want to move the club and everybody with it forward, and hope we can have the success everyone wants.”
Hughes is due to take training for the first time on Friday morning, before being in the dugout on Saturday when the Bantams face Mansfield Town.
City’s chief executive officer, Ryan Sparks, said: “We are delighted to have secured Mark’s services, and I am looking forward to working alongside him.
“His record and stature in the game speaks for itself, and he has achieved a great deal. To have him in our dugout is representative of the club’s ambition and desire to be successful.
“Mark expressed an interest in becoming our manager and, following talks between he, myself and Stefan (Rupp), we are today thrilled to be in a position to unveil him.
“This is without doubt one of the most significant appointments in the history of our football club. Mark recognises our true potential - and has the desire to ensure we fulfil it.
“Mark will be provided with the tools he requires in order to achieve our goals - be that in coaching, recruitment, sports science, medicine or any other area.
“He is relishing the challenges ahead and has repeatedly proven himself to thrive at elite levels of the game, in high-pressure situations."
Hughes replaces Derek Adams at the helm, with Adams, sacked with the Bantams in the bottom half of the table, having returned to former club Morecambe, who he guided to promotion to League One in 2021 before quitting, on Thursday.
