Fulham set to appoint Mark Hughes as manager
For the past eight months he’s been sitting on his hands waiting, but an opportunity to return to management has finally arisen for Mark Hughes – it’s now expected that the Welshman will take the reins at Fulham.
After missing out on first-choice coach Martin Jol last week, the Cottagers’ board were forced to act quickly to bring in a suitable replacement for Roy Hodgson before the start of the new campaign.
And it now appears that the Premier League club have landed a respected manager with the ability to pick up from where Hodgson left off.
It’s an appointment which sits well with all concerned. Hughes was keen to return to football management with a financially sound top-flight club; Fulham required a manager to continue the club’s progress, and the supporters demanded a big name in the hope that their team will continue to punch above their weight.
Hughes was dismissed as manager of Manchester City last December, despite only losing two league matches in the first half of the season. Many believed the decision was rather harsh on the former Wales international, although seven consecutive draws in October and November hardly helped his cause.
Arriving at Craven Cottage will be a reality check for Hughes after having the luxury of limitless funds at Eastlands. But chairman Mohammed Al Fayed is believed to have assured the prospective manager that money will be available for transfers.
With the likes of Brede Hangeland, Clint Dempsey, Damien Duff and Bobby Zamora still at the club, Hughes knows that he doesn’t have to start from scratch, which is just as well with the new season less than three weeks away. But the club’s supporters will be demanding more progress after last season’s exploits, ensuring that the Welshman’s new job won’t be without pressure.
Hughes enjoyed a tremendous career as a player, featuring for the likes of Manchester United, Barcelona and Chelsea over the course of his 22-year career. While he was still playing, Hughes became manager of the Wales national team, but left when they failed to qualify for Euro 2004.
He was then offered his first job in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers in 2004, and stayed at Ewood Park for four years. Hughes would then replace Sven-Goran Eriksson at Manchester City for the start of the 2008/09 season, but was sacked before the start of 2010.
Coincidentally, Eriksson was previously tipped to take over at the Cottage. For now, though, it seems that it’s Hughes who has landed one of the most sought-after Premier League jobs of the summer.
It’ll be the biggest test of his managerial career so far. Following in the footsteps of Hodgson will be no mean feat. However, Hughes has a point to prove after being dismissed by Man City, and he won’t want to be the man responsible for undoing Hodgson’s fine work.
Tags: