Steve Clarke has been named the new Reading manager after the Sky Bet Championship club moved swiftly following the sacking of Nigel Adkins.
Twelve months ago Clarke was axed by West Bromwich Albion, who remain the only Barclays Premier League club the 51-year-old Scot has taken charge of on a full-time basis, but he has now returned to management in the second tier after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Royals.He takes over a side who are 16th in the Championship table following Saturday's 6-1 thrashing at Birmingham City, a result which spelled the end of Adkins' tenure at the Madejski Stadium.
Clarke has spent a large part of his coaching career as an assistant manager, working uner the likes of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, Gianfranco Zola at West Ham United and Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool.
Speaking to the Royals' official website, he said: "I am absolutely delighted to be joining Reading Football Club and I look forward to helping the club move in the right direction.
"A big part of the work ahead is on the training ground and I look forward to meeting the players and getting onto the grass with them. There is real potential here and hopefully exciting times ahead for the supporters."
Clarke will take charge of his first game this weekend when Reading entertain Watford.