A member of Aston Villa’s Championship promotion-winning team is forging a career in management

Former Aston Villa midfielder Glenn Whelan has been confirmed as the new interim manager of League One strugglers Wigan Athletic following the departure of Shaun Maloney.

Whelan, who also starred for Stoke City and Sheffield Wednesday, joined Aston Villa on a two-year-contract in 2017 in an effort to help Steve Bruce’s side win promotion. The Republic of Ireland international was one of a number of high-profile signings that arrived that summer with Chelsea captain John Terry, Ahmed Elmohamady, Robert Snodgrass and Christopher Samba also joining the Villa Park side.

Whelan played 33 league games in his first season at Villa Park and notably scored his only goal that term in a 4-2 victory over his former club Sheffield Wednesday. Villa finished fourth that season but missed out on promotion after a play-off defeat to Fulham at Wembley Stadium.

The Villans started the 2018/19 campaign in poor form under Bruce but ended the campaign in fifth position with successor Dean Smith and were this time able to win promotion via the play-offs. Whelan played a part in that campaign with 35 appearances and one more goal which came in a 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough. He was released at the end of the season following the club’s return to the top-flight.

Glenn Whelan lands first managerial role

Glenn Whelan will get his first taste of management this week when Wigan travel to face fellow strugglers Mansfield Town on Tuesday night.

The 91-time Republic of Ireland international will be joined in the dugout by Graham Barrow and Frankie Bunn while the hierarchy conduct talks with a range of managerial candidates to replace Shaun Maloney.

Wigan are currently 15th in the League One table and struggling for form after winning just one of their last seven league matches.

A club statement explained: “The process of appointing a new Wigan Athletic Manager begins immediately. In the interim, First Team Coach, Glenn Whelan, will take charge of the first team supported by Club Ambassador and former Manager and Assistant Manager, Graham Barrow, along with Lead PDP Coach, Frankie Bunn.”

Glenn Whelan’s coaching career

Glenn Whelan enjoyed stints at Hearts, Fleetwood Town and amateur side Wythenshawe F.C before ending his career at Bristol Rovers where he linked up with then manager Joey Barton.

He played 51 matches across all competitions for the Pirates and combined his playing expertise by gaining experience on the training ground as a first team coach. He spent 14 months as a staff member at the Memorial Stadium and also enjoyed a brief stint helping interim Republic of Ireland boss John O’Shea at international level. He has been a part of the Wigan coaching staff since September and now steps into the dugout for the first time as a manager.

“I think he’s got all the attributes to be a fantastic coach,” Barton told Bristol Live during his time as manager. “I believe massively that good coaches make good players and I think Whelo will be an outstanding coach.”