Former Premier League midfielder Julio Arca has been named the new boss of sixth tier South Shields - a decade since retiring from professional football.
The Mariners have been on the lookout for a manager following the departure of Kevin Phillips last week. The ex-Sunderland and Southampton forward left his role after winning the Northern Premier League.
Phillips, 49, took over at South Shields in January 2022 and earned promotion to the National League North earlier this month. He has since been linked with the vacant role at League Two side Walsall.
However, South Shields didn't dwell on Phillips' shock departure and acted quick by appointing his ex-teammate Arca as their new manager on Thursday evening.
Arca spent three years as a player at the Mariners between 2015 and 2018 and captained the side as they won the Northern Premier League North Division in his final year at the club.
"It's great to be back at the club after so many years," Arca told the club's website. "I firmly believe this is the right time for me to come back for a different challenge, and I'm very excited about it.
"The club has grown so fast, and this is a fantastic opportunity for me to become a manager for the first time, especially with the platform we have here. There is a lot of work to do between now and the start of pre-season but I’m very hungry to get started and help the club continue to progress.
"I like to compete. I'm not a person who is happy to sit in mid-table, and that’s why we need to get the right things done at the beginning. I will do the best I can to put South Shields in a great position next season."
During his professional career, the 42-year-old moved to England when he made the switch to Sunderland in 2000. He became an instant fans' favourite on Wearside and made 177 appearances in a successful six-year stint.
Arca joined Middlesbrough in 2006 on a five-year deal and became Gareth Southgate's first signing since taking over as the club's boss. He helped them to an impressive 12th place finish and was an integral part of the Boro squad for the next six years, despite suffering a number of injury concerns.
The Argentine announced his retirement from professional football in 2013, however, at the end his Middlesbrough contract. Having spent a couple of years out of the game, Arca returned at semi-professional level with South Shields, who were then a 10th tier side, in 2015.
He helped the North East outfit to three successive promotions, all the way to Northern Premier League and also led South Shields out at Wembley in the FA Vase during the 2016/17 season. The Mariners defeated Cleethorpes in the final to complete the quadruple.
Now, Arca has made his first steps into senior management with South Shields - a club he is fondly aware of. The Mariners will compete in the National League North for the first time in their history and are one promotion away from the fifth tier.
