Hughes handed City job

Three-year deal for former Rovers chief

Last updated: 4th June 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hughes handed City job

Hughes: New City boss

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Manchester City have appointed Mark Hughes as Sven Goran Eriksson's successor at Eastlands.

Hughes has signed a three-year deal after deciding to leave Blackburn for City.

City, as expected, dispensed services with Eriksson earlier this week after just one year at the club with the Swede already linking up with the Mexican national team.

City officials made a move for Hughes and were given permission by Blackburn to hold talks with the former Manchester United star after agreeing a compensation package.

Chelsea were also linked with a move to bring Hughes back to Stamford Bridge as a replacement for Avram Grant, but City have won the race to lure him to Eastlands.

City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is a big admirer of Hughes and he will be hoping the Welshman can help the move club forward next season.

City's new chief executive, Garry Cook sealed the deal after meeing with Hughes and he believes the club have got the right man at the helm.

"I am delighted to welcome Mark on board. In our view he is the brightest young manager in the game and he was our number one target for the manager's job," Cook told the club's official website.

Cook, who has also been recently appointed by Shinawatra, says the future is bright for City and that money will be made available to Hughes for new signings.

"He made it clear to us from the moment we met that he shared our vision and ambition to make Manchester City one of the top sides in the country," continued Cook.

"It's a privilege to join Dr Thaksin here at Manchester City. There is no

better opportunity in world football.

"The club intends to invest in new players as well as securing the long-term

services of key members of the current first-team squad.

"Mark has already identified some of the players and backroom staff that he

wants to see here at City, and we will begin the process of recruiting them

immediately."