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Mark Hughes makes shock return to management with most daunting job in English football
Veteran manager Mark Hughes has been announced as the new boss of Carlisle United. The League Two club are rock bottom of the fourth tier and sacked Mike Williamson amid fears they could fall out of the EFL. The former Blackburn and Stoke manager has returned after 17 months out of managementGetty That was despite letting the former manager sign 12 new players in a January spending spree. Hughes has been out of work since being sacked by fellow League Two side Bradford in October 2023. Carlisle had been linked with ex-Bolton manager Ivan Evatt and even spoke about appointing a big name like Steven Gerrard, who recently left Al Ittihad by mutual consent. talkSPORT understands the Blues were rejected by Northampton Town boss Jon Brady before appointing Manchester United legend Hughes – for what could be considered the most daunting job in English football. Sporting director Rob Clarkson said: “I’m delighted that Mark has agreed to join Carlisle United. “His experience and stature in the game speaks for itself. He is someone who will instantly command respect from all staff and players and I am really excited to work with him. “The players we have here will suit the way he wants to play and I’m sure our fans will really get behind him and the team in our remaining 18 games.” Hughes enjoyed an iconic playing career, most famously at Manchester United, where he scored 163 goals across two glittering spells. The Wales icon will be joined at the Cumbrian side by assistant manager Glyn Hodges, who has worked with Hughes in a number of roles dating back to his time in charge of the Welsh national team. Both men have signed rolling contracts as Carlisle desperately try to avoid relegation to the National League. Mark Hughes’ managerial career JobAppointedDepartedWalesAugust 1999October 2004Blackburn RoversSeptember 2004June 2008Man CityJune 2008December 2009FulhamJuly 2010June 2011QPRJanuary 2012November 2012Stoke CityMay 2013January 2018SouthamptonMarch 2018December 2018Bradford CityFebruary 2022 October 2023Carlisle UnitedFebruary 2025– The Blues are five points adrift of safety after five defeats in their last six games, including a 5-1 loss to Swindon Town which ultimately sealed Williamson’s fate. Hughes will now be tasked with getting an almost-entirely-new squad to gel immediately. Among those who arrived were former Newcastle and Premier League regular Paul Dummett and Manchester United prospect Joe Hugill. League Two relegation is arguably the most damaging prospect in English football, given the tall order of promotion back up to the top four tiers. Only two teams are promoted from the semi-professional National League, with the champion automatically going up and then the next six sides involved in a play-off. Notts County almost failed to win promotion despite getting 107 points in the 2022/23 season and narrowly escaped via the play-offs. Hughes is a man with Premier League experiencePA Coincidentally, the National League launched a new ‘3UP’ campaign on Wednesday, calling for the EFL to vote in an extra promotion place before the 2025/26 campaign. A vote will take place at the EFL’s AGM in June – and talkSPORT host Jeff Stelling insisted clubs like Carlisle would likely be in favour the change. The Hartlepool president said: “If I was a League Two side now, among the Carlisles and the Morecambes and the Tranmeres of this world, I would imagine they’ll all be voting to say, yeah, definitely three come up, because if they go down, they’ll want a better chance of getting back up.”
Veteran manager Mark Hughes has been announced as the new boss of Carlisle United.
The League Two club are rock bottom of the fourth tier and sacked Mike Williamson amid fears they could fall out of the EFL.
That was despite letting the former manager sign 12 new players in a January spending spree.
Hughes has been out of work since being sacked by fellow League Two side Bradford in October 2023.
Carlisle had been linked with ex-Bolton manager Ivan Evatt and even spoke about appointing a big name like Steven Gerrard, who recently left Al Ittihad by mutual consent.
talkSPORT understands the Blues were rejected by Northampton Town boss Jon Brady before appointing Manchester United legend Hughes – for what could be considered the most daunting job in English football.
Sporting director Rob Clarkson said: “I’m delighted that Mark has agreed to join Carlisle United.
“His experience and stature in the game speaks for itself. He is someone who will instantly command respect from all staff and players and I am really excited to work with him.
“The players we have here will suit the way he wants to play and I’m sure our fans will really get behind him and the team in our remaining 18 games.”
Hughes enjoyed an iconic playing career, most famously at Manchester United, where he scored 163 goals across two glittering spells.
The Wales icon will be joined at the Cumbrian side by assistant manager Glyn Hodges, who has worked with Hughes in a number of roles dating back to his time in charge of the Welsh national team.
Both men have signed rolling contracts as Carlisle desperately try to avoid relegation to the National League.
Mark Hughes’ managerial career
| Job | Appointed | Departed |
| Wales | August 1999 | October 2004 |
| Blackburn Rovers | September 2004 | June 2008 |
| Man City | June 2008 | December 2009 |
| Fulham | July 2010 | June 2011 |
| QPR | January 2012 | November 2012 |
| Stoke City | May 2013 | January 2018 |
| Southampton | March 2018 | December 2018 |
| Bradford City | February 2022 | October 2023 |
| Carlisle United | February 2025 | – |
The Blues are five points adrift of safety after five defeats in their last six games, including a 5-1 loss to Swindon Town which ultimately sealed Williamson’s fate.
Hughes will now be tasked with getting an almost-entirely-new squad to gel immediately.
Among those who arrived were former Newcastle and Premier League regular Paul Dummett and Manchester United prospect Joe Hugill.
League Two relegation is arguably the most damaging prospect in English football, given the tall order of promotion back up to the top four tiers.
Only two teams are promoted from the semi-professional National League, with the champion automatically going up and then the next six sides involved in a play-off.
Notts County almost failed to win promotion despite getting 107 points in the 2022/23 season and narrowly escaped via the play-offs.
Coincidentally, the National League launched a new ‘3UP’ campaign on Wednesday, calling for the EFL to vote in an extra promotion place before the 2025/26 campaign.
A vote will take place at the EFL’s AGM in June – and talkSPORT host Jeff Stelling insisted clubs like Carlisle would likely be in favour the change.
The Hartlepool president said: “If I was a League Two side now, among the Carlisles and the Morecambes and the Tranmeres of this world, I would imagine they’ll all be voting to say, yeah, definitely three come up, because if they go down, they’ll want a better chance of getting back up.”
