Paul Lambert appointed new Stoke manager on two-and-a-half year deal to replace Mark Hughes
Lambert held talks with the Premier League strugglers over the weekend and impressed Stoke officials
STOKE have appointed Paul Lambert as their new manager.
The ex-Aston Villa boss impressed Stoke officials during talks at the weekend and has agreed a two-and-a-half year deal with the Premier League strugglers.
The Potters axed Mark Hughes nine days ago after a disastrous run of form plunged them into the relegation zone.
They were prepared to offer the job to former Watford gaffer Quique Sanchez Flores, but he rejected the opportunity to take over as he announced his intention to stay with Espanyol.
Gary Rowett was then earmarked as Hughes' successor, but he snubbed the Stoke move to pen a new deal with Derby County.
It was then reported that Stoke turned their attention to Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill.
But the 65-year-old has rejected the offer after he verbally agreed a two-year contract extension with the Football Association of Ireland in October.
Stoke, who are slumped in the relegation zone, enter tonight's clash against Manchester United on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Coventry in the FA Cup.
THE SPECIAL RON Real Madrid star set for spectacular return to Man United
And Lambert will be watching his new team from the stands, with coach Eddie Niedzwiecki taking charge of team affairs.
Speaking to the Stoke website on Lambert's appointment, chairman Peter Coates said: “Paul greatly impressed us with his knowledge of our squad and had a clear plan of how he would improve our results.
Most Read In Football
“He’s a man who backed himself as a player, none more so than when he turned down contract offers in Scotland to go on trial in the German Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, and it’s obvious he adopts the same approach as a manager.”
Lambert lists Norwich, Aston Villa and Blackburn among the seven previous clubs he has managed.
He recorded back-to-back promotions to the Premier League with Norwich before keeping Villa in the Premier League against all odds in the 2013/14 season.
Unfortunately, Lambert's appointment didn't go down too well with Stoke fans on social media, while others scoffed at the news.
George Eltringham even tweeted out that he was prepared to sell his season ticket at the Britannia Stadium "for £1.50".