Factfile: Stoke City appoint Mark Hughes as manager in three-year deal

The former Manchester United striker has returned to management

Mark Hughes: Ex-Everton player was quick to throw his hat into the ring (Getty Images)

Stoke City have appointed Mark Hughes as their new manager. Here, we take a closer look at the Welshman.

1963: Born Wrexham on November 1.

1980: Signs professional terms with Manchester United.

1983: Makes debut for United against Oxford.

1984: Scores on international debut for Wales against England.

1985: May - Wins FA Cup winner's medal as United beat Everton.

1986: Joins Barcelona in a £2.3million deal. Fails to settle, however, and is loaned out to Bayern Munich.

1988: Signs again for Manchester United for £1.8million.

1991: May: Scores twice against Barcelona as United win European Cup Winners' Cup.

1993: In the United side that wins inaugural Premiership title.

1994: United win the league and FA Cup double with Hughes a pivotal part of the side.

1995: Signs for Chelsea for £1.5million.

1997: Wins fourth FA Cup winner's medal after Chelsea beat Middlesbrough 2-0.

1998: Wins second European Cup Winners' Cup medal with Chelsea. Moves to Southampton before start of 1998-99 season.

1999: Appointed Wales manager for the last two European Championship qualifiers.

November 25 - Agrees four-and-a-half-year deal as Wales manager, the first 18 months of which is to be served on a part-time basis.

2000: March 14 - Joins Everton on a 14-month deal, scoring one goal in 15 appearances.

October 24 - Joins Blackburn on a free transfer, helping them to secure promotion to the Premiership.

2001: June - Wales fail to qualify for 2002 World Cup after winning just two of their last 12 games.

Scores two goals in 25 appearances as Rovers maintain their top-flight status and win the Worthington Cup and a place in Europe.

2002: May 13 - Told his contract will not be renewed by Blackburn and retires at the age of 38.

2003: Wales guarantee themselves a Euro 2004 qualifying play-off place after a 1-1 draw with Finland. They are beaten by Russia in play-off but Hughes insists he wants to stay in charge.

September 15 - Named manager of Blackburn.

2005-06: Blackburn finish sixth and qualify for the UEFA Cup.

2007: Blackburn return to the UEFA Cup, but are surprisingly beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Greek side Larissa in the first round.

2008: June 4 - Appointed as Manchester City manager on a three-year contract.

September 1 - Abu Dhabi United Group reach a takeover agreement with City, making the club the richest in world football. The new owners announce they want a top-four finish. City outbid Chelsea to sign Real Madrid forward Robinho in a British record £32.5million deal.

2009: January 3 - City suffer humiliating FA Cup third-round defeat, losing 3-0 at home to Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest.

May 24 - City finish 10th in the Barclays Premier League in Hughes' first season in charge.

July - The £12m capture of Gareth Barry from Aston Villa sparks a multi-million pound spending spree, which also saw acquisitions including Roque Santa Cruz, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Carlos Tevez and Joleon Lescott.

November - Pressure mounts on Hughes following City's run of seven straight Barclays Premier League draws.

December 19 - City terminate Hughes' contract, despite a 4-3 defeat of Sunderland. Roberto Mancini is immediately installed as his successor.

2010: July 29 - Appointed manager of Fulham on a two-year contract.

2011: May - Fulham finish eighth in the Premier League and qualify for the Europa League via the fair play league.

June 2 - Quits as Fulham manager.

2012: January 10 - Appointed QPR manager on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

May - Keeps QPR in the Premier League despite suffering a 3-2 defeat to Man City on the last day of the 2011/12 season.

July/August - Embarks on a signing spree, bringing in the likes of Robert Green, Park Ji-Sung, Julio Cesar and Esteban Granero.

November 4 - A 1-1 draw with Reading extends QPR's winless start to the 2012/13 campaign to 10 matches.

November 17 - A 3-1 home defeat by relegation rivals Southampton increases the pressure on Hughes.

November 23 - Sacked by QPR on the eve of their clash with Manchester United.

2013: May 30: Appointed manager of Stoke.