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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Joe Donnelly

Former Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou number two lands new job

Chris Davies has been appointed the new manager of Birmingham City, leaving Tottenham Hotspur where he was former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou's assistant.

Davies was also Brendan Rodgers' number two during the Irishman's first spell as Celtic manager, during which time current assistant manager, John Kennedy, served as the club's first-team coach.

Davies spent 13 years working alongside Rodgers, most recently at Leicester City when both left Glasgow for the English Premier League outfit five years ago.

During their time together in Glasgow's east end, Rodgers was assisted by Davies as Celtic won two back-to-back domestic trebles, and had already lifted the 2018/19 Scottish League Cup before leaving the club in February 2019. 

In total, Davies helped Celtic clinch seven out of the seven trophies Rodgers, himself and the Celtic backroom team at that time had entered - including the club's historic and unprecedented 'Invincibles' treble of the 2016/17 campaign; and the 69-game unbeaten domestic run that extended into the season after that again.    

Prior to this, the pair worked together at Swansea City and Liverpool.



Now 39, Davies succeeds another ex-Celt, Tony Mowbray, who stepped away from management for health reasons last month. Davies has signed a four-year deal at the newly-relegated English League One outfit.

As reported by the BBC, it's thought higher-ups at Birmingham spoke to upwards of 40 candidates for the vacancy, and upon choosing Davies, were forced to buy him out of his contract at Spurs – on which the coach had two years remaining.

"From our first meeting, it was clear we were aligned on values and shared our ambition for Blues," said owner and chairman Tom Wagner.

"He is widely respected in the game and fulfils our goal to appoint an ambitious, progressive coach. He is motivated to help redefine the club, the culture, and the playing identity."

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