Aston Villa signs manager McLeish
Amid fan protests, English club hires rival Birmingham's coach.
247 – English club Aston Villa confirmed the signing of manager McLeish, amidst intense protests from fans. The new manager previously coached the club's main rival, Mirmingham – also from Aston Villa – where he won the English League Cup last season.
Before the news was confirmed this Friday, Aston Villa fans threatened to return tickets for the next season (2011/2012) and put up posters and graffiti on the walls of Villa Park, the club's home ground.
McLeish had left Birmingham five days earlier and was immediately considered a candidate to replace then-Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier, who was sidelined due to heart problems. Details of the signing were not disclosed. Rival Birmingham is demanding financial compensation for the two years remaining on the manager's contract and is threatening to take the matter to the Football Association (FA) if payment is not received.
Aston Villa will be the sixth club managed by McLeish, who began his career at Motherwell in Scotland, then went on to manage Hibernian, Glasgow Rangers, the Scottish national team, before arriving at Birmingham. As a player, the 52-year-old Scot played for Motherwell and Aberdeen, where he began his career under Alex Ferguson.