Mark Hughes has been appointed as manager of Bradford City.
The Welshman has been away from the managerial hotseat since leaving Southampton in 2018.
But he has returned to the dugout in League Two, signing a two-and-a-half year contract with the Bantams.
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 - who won 72 caps for his country - started his managerial career with Wales and led the Red Dragons to the Euro 2004 play-offs.
He has gone on to take charge of Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City and most recently Southampton.
And on Friday morning, it was confirmed that he has been appointed as Derek Adams' successor at Valley Parade.
Bradford' 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.
“I hope you can join us on Saturday, when we face Mansfield Town, so Mark can be given a proper Valley Parade welcome as he leads us into the closing months of the season and beyond.”
Bradford are currently 15th in League Two and have lost their last three games in a row.
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