06-02-2025, 17:04
Carlisle United have appointed Wales legend Mark Hughes as their new head coach.
Hughes has signed a rolling contract to replace Mike Williamson who was sacked on Monday with the club bottom of League Two.
The 61-year-old, who will have Glyn Hodges alongside him as assistant coach, has been out of work since being sacked by Bradford City in October 2023.
Hughes has managed six clubs in the Premier League as well as the Wales national team after a glittering playing career.
He spent 18 months at Bradford and in his only full season in charge the Bantams finished sixth before they were beaten in the League Two play-offs by Carlisle.
That was his only managerial job outside the top-flight, having previously been in charge of a total of 466 Premier League games at Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham, QPR, Stoke City and Southampton.
Before that, he had managed Wales for five years, leading them to a play-off for Euro 2004, but he was not able to guide them to a major tournament.
Hughes won 11 major honours during a playing career as a centre forward with Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Southampton, Everton and Blackburn Rovers. He also won 72 caps for Wales.
'Mark will instantly command respect'
But his new job is to try to drag Carlisle away from relegation to the National League.
They are 24th in League Two, five points from safety, and he is their third boss of the season after the departures of Williamson and Paul Simpson, who left in August.
The Cumbrians have won only twice at Brunton Park all season, and brought Williamson's reign to an end after a humiliating 5-1 defeat at home by Swindon Town on Saturday.
Williamson's exit came despite bringing in 11 new players in the transfer window, backed by the club's American owners, the Piatak family.
But sporting director Rob Clarkson has acted quickly to bring Hughes in for the final 18 games of the season, starting at Grimsby Town on Saturday.
"Mark's experience and stature in the game speaks for itself," Clarkson told the club's website, external.
"He is someone who will instantly command respect from all staff and players and I am really excited to work with him.
"The players we have here will suit the way he wants to play and I'm sure our fans will really get behind him and the team in our remaining 18 games."
Hughes has signed a rolling contract to replace Mike Williamson who was sacked on Monday with the club bottom of League Two.
The 61-year-old, who will have Glyn Hodges alongside him as assistant coach, has been out of work since being sacked by Bradford City in October 2023.
Hughes has managed six clubs in the Premier League as well as the Wales national team after a glittering playing career.
He spent 18 months at Bradford and in his only full season in charge the Bantams finished sixth before they were beaten in the League Two play-offs by Carlisle.
That was his only managerial job outside the top-flight, having previously been in charge of a total of 466 Premier League games at Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham, QPR, Stoke City and Southampton.
Before that, he had managed Wales for five years, leading them to a play-off for Euro 2004, but he was not able to guide them to a major tournament.
Hughes won 11 major honours during a playing career as a centre forward with Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Southampton, Everton and Blackburn Rovers. He also won 72 caps for Wales.
'Mark will instantly command respect'
But his new job is to try to drag Carlisle away from relegation to the National League.
They are 24th in League Two, five points from safety, and he is their third boss of the season after the departures of Williamson and Paul Simpson, who left in August.
The Cumbrians have won only twice at Brunton Park all season, and brought Williamson's reign to an end after a humiliating 5-1 defeat at home by Swindon Town on Saturday.
Williamson's exit came despite bringing in 11 new players in the transfer window, backed by the club's American owners, the Piatak family.
But sporting director Rob Clarkson has acted quickly to bring Hughes in for the final 18 games of the season, starting at Grimsby Town on Saturday.
"Mark's experience and stature in the game speaks for itself," Clarkson told the club's website, external.
"He is someone who will instantly command respect from all staff and players and I am really excited to work with him.
"The players we have here will suit the way he wants to play and I'm sure our fans will really get behind him and the team in our remaining 18 games."
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?