Lee Johnson was sacked by Hibernian last month after a winless start to the season; the Easter Road club are now 10th in the Scottish Premiership; Nick Montgomery's first match in charge is at Kilmarnock on Saturday
Monday 11 September 2023 11:39, UK
New Hibernian head coach Nick Montgomery wants to "bring success back" to Easter Road after agreeing a three-year deal.
He joins from Australian club Central Coast Mariners, where he won the A-League title this year, and will take charge of his first game on Saturday at Kilmarnock.
The 41-year-old was top of Hibs' shortlist and replaces Lee Johnson, who was sacked last month after a 3-2 Scottish Premiership defeat at home to Livingston.
He arrives with Sergio Raimundo as his assistant head coach and Miguel de Oliveira Miranda, who is the club's new goalkeeping coach, while David Gray remains first-team coach.
Montgomery has already outlined his vision as he looks to make an impact in the capital.
"My long-term goal is to hopefully bring success back to the club because it's been a while, but that's not easy," he told Sky Sports News.
"I'll come in here and work hard. I think the squad is a really good squad, very talented so I'm really looking forward to working with them.
"Success is a team that's competing in every game and every time you walk on that pitch with that Hibs shirt and Hibs badge you wear it with pride, then you go out and compete and give the fans a team that they can they can identify with.
"I understand how important football is to the community, to the funds and not to come on the weekend or midweek whenever isn't just come and watch your team but be excited to come and watch your team and hopefully I can bring that to the fans.
"I really want to give them a team to be proud of.
"The show of faith from the club to give me the three-year deal, there are no guarantees in anything.
"I took this opportunity because I really believed in it and I believed in the project.
"I spent 15 years at one club, 11 years and over so I'm not somebody that moves around a lot."
Hibernian's director of football Brian McDermott said: "We are delighted to welcome Nick to Hibernian FC and are really excited about bringing him to the football club.
"I've followed Nick's career for a number of years. As a player, he was a leader and he's brought that quality into his managerial and coaching career. What he's done as a coach is really impressive.
"He helped rebuild what is now a successful Academy and did a magnificent job of bringing through and developing young players. Alongside this, he has incredibly strong coaching credentials.
"Ian (Gordon) Ben (Kensell), the board of directors, and I believe that Nick is the right fit for this football club. He has a real strong, distinctive style of play, is a front-foot manager, and what he achieved at Central Coast Mariners last season was phenomenal.
"He created a strong relationship and camaraderie between the supporters, players and staff, and he's an excellent man manager which has seen him get the best out of the players he's worked with.
"Everyone has bought into him as a person and as a coach. We look forward to working with him and bringing successful times to this fantastic football club."
He started his playing career at Sheffield United where he made 349 appearances for the Blades, featuring in the Premier League.
The midfielder joined the Central Coast Mariners ahead of the 2012/13 season and helped the club win their first A-League Championship.
After more than 500 appearances across all his clubs, he eventually hung up his boots in 2018 and joined the Australian club's coaching set-up - transforming the Central Coast Mariners Academy into one of the best in Asia.
Montgomery worked his way up the ranks to assistant coach and then head coach of the academy side - where he secured the Premiership/Championship double before being named head coach of the A-League club.
Alongside Raimundo, he led the Central Coast Mariners to fifth in their first campaign and sold Mark Birighitti and Kye Rowles to the Scottish Premiership.
The following season his side scored the most goals in a single season in the club's history, finished second and secured a place in the Asian Football Confederation Cup.
Montgomery's side went on to finish the finals as A-League Champions, scoring 10 goals across three matches while only conceding twice.
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