John Eustace appointed as Blues Head Coach
Birmingham City is delighted to announce John Eustace as the Club’s new Head Coach.
Agreeing terms on a three-year contract, his appointment comes ahead of the 2022/23 Sky Bet Championship season and the First Team's pre-season trip to Portugal next week.
As recently as last month, he was operating in the position of assistant manager at Queens Park Rangers, helping the Hoops to achieve two top-half finishes and install a distinct football philosophy across four years in West London.
Prior to this, the highly-rated 42-year-old took his first steps in management with Kidderminster Harriers in 2016, transforming their style of play and twice leading them to the National League North play-offs and to the first round proper of the Emirates FA Cup across two campaigns at Aggborough.
Since March of this year, he has also fulfilled the role of Assistant Manager for the Republic of Ireland’s Men’s national team, working under Stephen Kenny as they ended the last international break with success over Scotland and a draw on the road against Ukraine in the UEFA Nations League.
Speaking to BCFC.com, Eustace spoke of his pride at taking up the reins in the Second City and outlined his vision for the future.
"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.
"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.”
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.
An impressive 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.
Eustace skippered Blues Club Captain at Vicarage Road.
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.
Paul Harsley will continue in his role of First Team Development Coach whilst Eustace's coaching staff will be confirmed in the coming days.
Welcome to Blues, John!
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