Former United striker Hughes takes over at League 2 Bradford

Add as preferred source on Google

Former Manchester United striker Mark Hughes has made a shock return to football management.

Hughes’ last managerial role was at Southampton, and he departed the south coast club in December 2018 to be replaced by Ralph Hasenhuttl.

That was of course in the Premier League but he has dropped into League Two to take over Bradford City, who currently sit 15th in the fourth tier.

Derek Adams was sacked as Bantams boss earlier this month and Hughes told the club’s website how pleased he is to replace him.

“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!” he said.

“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.”

Ian Herbert in the Daily Mail actually suggested that Hughes would be a good interim option to take over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November.

He wrote: “Hughes has vanished off the managerial radar since he parted company with Southampton.

“But United should seek to persuade him to take over in a temporary capacity, while making entreaties to Mauricio Pochettino.”

But as Ralf Rangnick reflects on leading his United side out against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano, Hughes is preparing for his maiden match in charge, against Mansfield Town on Saturday.

That clash should see him come against a United loanee, in the shape of goalkeeper Nathan Bishop, who is targeting promotion this season.

With all due respect to Bradford, the fact that Hughes has had to drop into the bottom half of League 2 to get back into the game is as clear an indication as it is possible to get that he was not the right man to replace Solskjaer.