Mark Hughes has been appointed as the new manager of Stoke City on a three-year deal. The Welshman had been out-of-work since November when he was sacked by QPR but now makes his return with the Potters after they parted ways with long-standing boss Tony Pulis.
Highes' first managerial appointment came back in 1999 with the Welsh national team, with whom he managed for five years. He nearly led them to Euro 2004 qualification but they just lost out to Russia in the play-offs.
From 2004 to 2008 he managed Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League. In his first season in charge he kept the club in the top flight before guiding them to a very impressive 6th place finish the following year. This was followed by a 10th place finish and then 7th in 2007/08.
In the summer of 2008 Hughes became the Manager of Man City and was instantly charged with getting results on the pitch for the club who were clearly looking to go places. A couple of months after his appointment the club was taken over by the Abu Dhabi United investment group which enabled Hughes to splash the cash in the transfer market, where he wasted no time in bringing in the likes of Robinho from Real Madrid. Hughes finished 10th in his first season in charge and then despite making a bright start the following season, he was sacked in December 2009.
Hughes became manager of Fulham in July 2010 but despite leading them to 8th in the league and qualification to the Europa League he shocked everyone at the club by resigning in June 2011. In January 2012 he became manager of QPR.
