Birmingham City announce new head coach after Lee Bowyer sacking

John Eustace has been appointed the new head coach of Birmingham City on a three year deal
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Birmingham City have announced former Republic of Ireland assistant manager John Eustace as the club’s new head coach.

Eustace, who is from Solihull, has been appointed City’s manager on a three year deal following the sacking of Lee Bowyer on Saturday (2 July).

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The appointment comes ahead of the 2022/2 Championship season which gets underway in less than a month’s time, with the club’s pre-season trip to Portugal taking place next week.

John Eustace has been appointed head coach on a three year deal John Eustace has been appointed head coach on a three year deal
John Eustace has been appointed head coach on a three year deal

Paul Harsley will continue in his role of first team development coach whilst Eustace’s coaching staff will be confirmed in the coming days.

As recently as last month, Eustace was operating in the position of assistant manager at Queens Park Rangers.

The 42-year-old took his first steps in management with Kidderminster Harriers in 2016 - twice leading them to the National League North play-offs and to the first round proper of the FA Cup across two campaigns at Aggborough.

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Since March of this year, he has also fulfilled the role of assistant manager for the Republic of Ireland, working under Stephen Kenny.

What has Eustace said?

Speaking to BCFC.com, Eustace said:“I am very proud to be here. Obviously, I am a Birmingham lad and I know the potential of the Club and how important it is to the fans.

“We have underachieved in the past few seasons and a club of this size, with the support that this club has, we need to be aiming higher.

“I can’t wait to get going, meet the staff and get my ideas across to the players out on the pitches as soon as we can.

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“The big picture is to get us as competitive as we can, to build a team that the fans are proud of, to play exciting football and win as many games as we can.

“The first thing we have to do is get this squad competitive and ready for that first game of the season against Luton.”

Playing career

During his playing career as a midfielder, Eustace recorded more than 400 appearances, starting with a seven-year stint at Coventry City that included loan moves to the Scottish and English top flights with Dundee United and Middlesbrough respectively.

Four-and-a-half seasons followed at Stoke City, featuring a temporary move to Hereford United as he returned from injury, ahead of a deadline day switch to Watford in January 2008.

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For the Hornets, he would appear 168 times, scoring 13 goals, and captained the side from 2010 until his departure to his final club Derby County, with whom he had spent three months on loan in 2009 and would play for until the end of 2014/15.

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