Mark Hughes

{{Short description|Welsh footballer (born 1963)}}

{{about|the Welsh international footballer|other people}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Mark Hughes
OBE

| image = 1 mark hughes 2015.jpg

| caption = Hughes as manager of Stoke City in 2015

| fullname = Leslie Mark Hughes{{Hugman|9616|access-date=21 November 2020}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|11|1|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ruabon, Wales

| height = {{convert|1.74|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/339/Mark-Hughes/overview |title=Mark Hughes: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=16 October 2023}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Carlisle United (Head coach)

| youthyears1 = 1978–1980 |youthclubs1 = Manchester United

| years1 = 1980–1986 |clubs1 = Manchester United |caps1 = 89 |goals1 = 37

| years2 = 1986–1988 |clubs2 = Barcelona |caps2 = 28 |goals2 = 4

| years3 = 1987–1988 |clubs3 = → Bayern Munich (loan) |caps3 = 18 |goals3 = 6

| years4 = 1988–1995 |clubs4 = Manchester United |caps4 = 256 |goals4 = 83

| years5 = 1995–1998 |clubs5 = Chelsea |caps5 = 95 |goals5 = 25

| years6 = 1998–2000 |clubs6 = Southampton |caps6 = 52 |goals6 = 2

| years7 = 2000 |clubs7 = Everton |caps7 = 18 |goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2000–2002 |clubs8 = Blackburn Rovers |caps8 = 50 |goals8 = 6

| totalcaps = 606 |totalgoals = 164

| nationalyears1 = 1984–1999 |nationalteam1 = Wales |nationalcaps1 = 72 |nationalgoals1 = 16

| manageryears1 = 1999–2004 |managerclubs1 = Wales

| manageryears2 = 2004–2008 |managerclubs2 = Blackburn Rovers

| manageryears3 = 2008–2009 |managerclubs3 = Manchester City

| manageryears4 = 2010–2011 |managerclubs4 = Fulham

| manageryears5 = 2012 |managerclubs5 = Queens Park Rangers

| manageryears6 = 2013–2018 |managerclubs6 = Stoke City

| manageryears7 = 2018 |managerclubs7 = Southampton

| manageryears8 = 2022–2023

| managerclubs8 = Bradford City

| manageryears9 = 2025–

| managerclubs9 = Carlisle United

}}

Leslie Mark Hughes {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}}{{London Gazette|issue=57315 |supp=y|page=10|date=12 June 2004}} (born 1 November 1963) is a Welsh football coach and former player who is the head coach of {{English football updater|CarlislU}} club Carlisle United.

During his playing career he usually operated as a forward or midfielder. He had two spells at Manchester United, and also played for Barcelona and Bayern Munich, as well as the English clubs Chelsea, Southampton, Everton and finally Blackburn Rovers. He made 72 appearances for Wales scoring 16 goals. He won a host of winners' medals during his playing career, including two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and two UEFA Cup Winners' Cups. He also collected an FA Cup runners-up medal and a League Cup runners-up medal. Hughes was the first player to win the PFA Players' Player of the Year award twice, in 1989 and 1991, as well as having been the only person to have scored in the FA Community Shield, League Cup final, and FA Cup final in the same season (1993–94). He retired from playing in 2002.

Hughes was appointed manager of Wales in 1999 and remained in the role until 2004. He failed to qualify for a World Cup or European Championship during his five years in charge, although his reign coincided with a marked improvement in results. Wales came particularly close to securing 2004 European Championship qualification. Hughes then spent four years in charge of Blackburn, guiding them to sixth place in 2005–06. He took charge of Manchester City in June 2008 for a year and a half before spending the 2010–11 season at Fulham. He joined Queens Park Rangers in January 2012, helping them retain their Premier League status in 2011–12. Despite some high-profile signings in the summer of 2012, QPR began the 2012–13 season in very poor form, and Hughes was dismissed on 23 November 2012.{{cite web|title=Mark Hughes sacked by QPR|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/nov/23/mark-hughes-sacked-by-qpr|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 November 2012|date=23 November 2012}}

Hughes was appointed manager of Stoke City on 30 May 2013. He guided the club to three consecutive ninth-place Premier League finishes in 2013–14, 2014–15 and 2015–16. Progress at Stoke stalled in the 2016–17 season, with the club finishing 13th in the table. Following a poor start to the 2017–18 season, with the club in the relegation zone heading into the new year, he was dismissed by Stoke on 6 January 2018, hours after an FA Cup third round exit to League Two side Coventry City.{{cite web|title=Mark Hughes: Stoke City sack manager after poor run|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42332958|website=BBC Sport|access-date=6 January 2018}} He was appointed manager of Southampton on 14 March 2018, signing a contract until the end of the season, with Southampton one point above his former club Stoke in 17th place at the time of his appointment.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43403577|title=Mark Hughes: Southampton appoint former Stoke manager until end of season|work=BBC Sport|date=14 March 2018 | access-date = 15 March 2018}} He guided the club to safety at the end of the 2017–18 season, but was dismissed in December 2018 with the club at 18th in the table.

Club career

=Manchester United=

Born in Ruabon, Wrexham, Hughes joined Manchester United after leaving school in the summer of 1980, having been spotted by the team's North Wales talent scout Hugh Roberts.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4924264.stm |title=Old Trafford scout Roberts dies |work=BBC Sport |date=19 April 2006 |access-date=2 June 2013}} However, he did not make his first team debut for three years – scoring in a 1–1 draw away to Oxford United in the League Cup, in the 1983–84 season.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

When Hughes made his United debut, the club's forward partnership consisted of 27-year-old Irishman Frank Stapleton and 18-year-old Norman Whiteside from Northern Ireland, and breaking up that partnership would not be an easy challenge for Hughes. But Hughes quickly broke into the first team, partnering Frank Stapleton in attack while Norman Whiteside was switched to midfield to partner Ray Wilkins and stand in for the injury prone Remi Moses. The departure of Wilkins to Milan at the end of the season saw manager Ron Atkinson decide to stick to using Whiteside in the centre of midfield, enabling Hughes to keep his place in the first team ahead of new signing Alan Brazil, and he was rewarded handsomely as he scored 25 goals in 55 matches across all competitions as United achieved an FA Cup final victory over Everton. They also finished fourth in the league.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

Hughes managed a further 18 goals in the 1985–86 season, where they led until February having won their first ten league matches of the season, before a dismal second half of the season saw them slip into fourth place in the final table. That season saw him score 17 goals in the Football League First Division – it would remain the highest goals tally in a league season throughout his career.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

=Barcelona=

In the summer of 1986, Hughes was sold to Barcelona for £2 million. United announced on 21 March 1986 that Hughes would be heading for Spain at the end of the season, but the transfer had been agreed many weeks earlier.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

Manager Terry Venables signed Hughes at the same time that he signed Gary Lineker from Everton to form a new strike partnership at the Camp Nou, but Hughes was a disappointment in his only season at Barcelona, scoring only 5 times in 37 games, whereas Lineker proved a success in three seasons at the club, scoring 51 in 138 games.{{Cite web |last=Jugadors |first=F. C. B. |title=Leslie Mark Hughes stats {{!}} FC Barcelona Players |url=https://players.fcbarcelona.com/en/player/400-hughes-leslie-mark-hughes |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=FCB Jugadors |language=en}}

==Loan to Bayern Munich==

He was subsequently loaned out to West German club Bayern Munich for the 1987–88 season, where he regained his form. On 11 November 1987, he played two competitive matches in one day, first for Wales against Czechoslovakia in Prague in a Euro 1988 qualifier, and second, after being flown across the border into West Germany, appearing as a substitute for Bayern in their win over Borussia Mönchengladbach in a DFB-Pokal second round replay.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sparky+Czech-ed+out+Prague+and+Germany.-a0149442787 |title=Sparky Czech-ed out Prague and Germany |first=Ian |last=Carbis |work=South Wales Echo |access-date=1 August 2010}}{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Aled |title=Bayern Munich and Wales: Mark Hughes' two games in two countries in a day |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46097218 |publisher=BBC Wales Sport |access-date=6 November 2018 |date=5 November 2018}}

=Return to Manchester United=

File:Mark Hughes juli 1991.JPG in 1991.]]

In May 1988, Hughes returned to Manchester United, managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, for a then club record fee of £1.8 million. As he had done in his first spell at Old Trafford, Hughes proved to be a dynamic goalscorer and was a key player for the club over the next seven years. Alex Ferguson had been keen on re-signing Hughes for United soon after becoming manager in November 1986, but Hughes would have been liable for taxation on money earned playing overseas if he had returned to England before April 1988.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

In 1988–89, his first season back in England, United disappointed in the league and finished 11th after an erratic season. They had gone ten league matches without a win in the autumn but then went on a strong run after the turn of the new year to lift them to third place, only for a late season collapse to drag them down to mid-table. Hughes was voted PFA Player of the Year, the first Manchester United player to be credited with that award, in its 16th season. He was also United's joint top scorer that season, along with Brian McClair, on 16 goals.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

A year later, Hughes scored twice as United drew 3–3 with Crystal Palace in the 1990 FA Cup final, before a Lee Martin goal in the replay gave United their first major trophy in five years. He was United's top goalscorer that season, scoring 15 goals in all competitions; 13 of his goals had come in the league, where United finished a disappointing 13th. He scored his third United hat-trick in a September clash against Millwall in the league at Old Trafford, which United won 5–1.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

The following season, Hughes scored both goals against former club Barcelona as United lifted the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, winning the final 2–1 in Rotterdam. Once again, he was their top scorer, this time with 21 goals in all competitions, although his tally in the league was bettered by Brian McClair and Steve Bruce. They also reached the Football League Cup final that year, but United suffered a shock 1–0 defeat to a Sheffield Wednesday side managed by Ron Atkinson, who had been Hughes's manager in his first spell at Old Trafford. Hughes was also voted PFA Player of the Year again this season. The 1990–91 season also saw Hughes score the last of his four hat-tricks for United, in a League Cup quarter-final replay against Southampton at Old Trafford, which United won 3–2. In 1991–92, Hughes suffered the disappointment of missing out on a league title medal as United were pipped to the title by Leeds United, but had some compensation in the form of a League Cup winner's medal. He found the net 11 times in the league and 14 times in all competitions.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

For much of the 1991–92 season, United had been linked with a move for the Southampton striker Alan Shearer, but the player chose to stay at the South Coast club until the season's end before making a decision about his future, before deciding to sign for Blackburn Rovers. Sir Alex Ferguson remained intent on signing a new striker for United that summer, although it was far from clear whether it was Hughes or his strike-partner Brian McClair who would lose his place in the first team or be switched to another position in order to accommodate a new signing. Ferguson's hunt for a new striker ended with the acquisition of Dion Dublin, although Dublin was injured after playing just a few matches for the club, and it was not long before United were in the hunt for another new striker, as a lack of goals were seeing them slip behind in the title race. Eric Cantona was eventually signed at the end of November, which prompted interest from Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan, who had first asked Ferguson about Hughes's availability that summer. Ferguson, however, insisted that Hughes was not for sale, and he remained a regular choice in the first team, playing alongside Cantona while McClair was mostly selected in central midfield from then on.{{cite web|title=Football: United spurn Keegan's pursuit of Hughes|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-united-spurn-keegans-pursuit-of-hughes-1560908.html|website=The Independent|access-date=22 June 2016}}

In May 1993, Hughes finally collected an English league title medal as United won the first-ever Premier League title; Hughes was United's top scorer with 15 goals in the league and a further goal in the League Cup. From December, he mostly played alongside new signing Eric Cantona in attack, with Brian McClair being switched to the centre of midfield. Hughes collected yet more silverware in 1994 as United won the league title as well as the FA Cup, with Hughes scoring in the final. He also scored Manchester United's consolation goal in their 3–1 defeat in the 1994 League Cup Final at the hands of Aston Villa at Wembley in that season. In so doing, he became only the second player (after Norman Whiteside in 1983) to score in the finals of both the domestic cups in the same season. This has since been achieved a third time by Didier Drogba in 2007. His partnership with Cantona in attack also went from strength to strength, as he found the net 22 times in all competitions as Cantona scored a further 25.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

In December 1994, with United second to Blackburn in the race for the league title, media reports were linking United with the signature of several highly rated strikers including Andy Cole and Stan Collymore, and there had already been some impressive performances in the first team from 20-year-old striker Paul Scholes. Hughes was now widely tipped to be the player most likely to lose his place to any new signing in the forward positions, and when United completed the £7 million signing of Cole on 10 January 1995, it was almost immediately reported that new Everton manager Joe Royle was tabling a £2.5 million bid for Hughes.{{cite web|title=Hughes expected to give way to £16m Cole|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-hughes-expected-to-give-way-to-1637m-cole-1567583.html|website=The Independent|access-date=22 June 2016}}

Four days later, however, Hughes suffered a knee injury early in a match against Newcastle, colliding with opposition goalkeeper Pavel Srníček as he scored a goal. The injury was initially feared to be cruciate knee ligament damage, which would inevitably have put him out of action for at least the rest of the season, but it was instead revealed to be a serious gash, and he was back in action within a month, during which time United were left without the services of Eric Cantona, who attacked a Crystal Palace fan and was subsequently banned for eight months.{{cite web|title=Hughes injury blow to United|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-hughes-injury-blow-to-united-1568312.html|website=The Independent|access-date=22 June 2016}} Hughes now found himself with his first team place still looking secure, at least in the short term, and in partnership with Andy Cole. He even signed a new two-year contract.{{cite web|title=Main man of United|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/profile-main-man-of-united-1610783.html|website=The Independent|access-date=22 June 2016}}

Hughes came close to winning both the Premier League and FA Cup again in 1995, but a failure to beat West Ham United on the final day of the season and the inability to score an equaliser against Everton in the FA Cup final a week later condemned United to their first trophyless season in six years. The FA Cup final was his last match in a United shirt. Hughes scored eight league goals in 1994–95 (two of them in the 9–0 defeat of Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on 4 March 1995) and managed a total of 12 in all competitions (two in the FA Cup and another two in the European Cup). During two spells at the club, he had found the net a total of 163 times (116 of his goals coming during his second spell). Perhaps the most memorable of those goals came in April 1994, when he scored a spectacular equaliser in the final minute of extra time in the FA Cup semi-final against Oldham Athletic at Wembley.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

By the time of his departure from Manchester United, he was the last player at the club to have been there before the appointment of Sir Alex Ferguson as manager in November 1986,{{citation needed|date=June 2016}} albeit having left for Barcelona before Ferguson was hired and then returning two years into his stint as manager.{{Cite web |title=Mark Hughes at Manchester United's official player page |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/mark-hughes}}{{Cite web |title=Alex Ferguson timeline at ESPN |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/37377281/sir-alex-ferguson-line-manchester-united%3fplatform=amp}}

=Chelsea=

Hughes left Old Trafford for the second and final time in June 1995 when he was sold to Chelsea for £1 million, in a summer that also saw the departures of players such as Paul Ince (to Inter Milan) and Andrei Kanchelskis (to Everton). Hughes scored a consolation goal for Chelsea in the home Premier League fixture against Manchester United in 1995–96; a 4–1 win for United at Stamford Bridge in October.{{cite web|title=Chelsea 1 Manchester United 4 |url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/chelsea-v-manchester-united-21-october-1995-22264/|website=11v11.com|access-date=16 March 2017|date=21 October 1995}} He was on the losing side again as United beat Chelsea 2–1 in the FA Cup semi-final that season, less than two years after he had scored one of United's goals in their FA Cup final triumph over Chelsea.{{cite web|title=Manchester United 2 Chelsea 1|url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-united-v-chelsea-31-march-1996-217209/|website=11v11.com|access-date=16 March 2017|date=31 March 1996}}

Hughes was one of the key players in Chelsea's resurgence as a top club in the late 1990s, forming a potent strike partnership with Gianfranco Zola and helping to freeze out Gianluca Vialli (who became the club's player-manager in February 1998). He put in match-winning performances against Liverpool and Wimbledon in the FA Cup in 1997, and Vicenza in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup a year later, playing a big part in Chelsea's glory in both of these competitions. In winning the FA Cup, he became the only player in the 20th century to win the trophy four times. He ended his Chelsea career with 39 goals from 123 matches and was transferred to Southampton for £650,000 in July 1998.

=Southampton=

In July 1998, Hughes was signed by Southampton for a fee of £650,000{{cite news |title=Hughes signs for Saints |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/130230.stm |work=BBC News |date=11 July 1998 |access-date=2 April 2012 }} by manager Dave Jones, as an alternative to injury-plagued David Hirst,{{cite book |title=In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC |last1=Holley |first1=Duncan |last2=Chalk |first2=Gary |publisher=Hagiology |year=2003 |isbn=0-9534474-3-X |pages=529–530 }} who retired within 18 months of Hughes's arrival. The goals failed to flow and Hughes was pushed back into midfield, where his experience helped Southampton maintain their Premier League status.

His two goals for Southampton came against Blackburn Rovers, who he was later to join, and a "memorable volley" at home to Newcastle on 15 August 1999. Hughes had disciplinary problems throughout his career, and in his first season at The Dell he received 14 yellow cards, a total which has not been exceeded in the Premier League {{as of|2022|lc=yes}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/Statistics/0,,12306,00.html |title=Official Site of the Premier League – Barclays Premier League News, Fixtures and Results | Statistics |publisher=Premier League |access-date=20 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230130252/http://www.premierleague.com/page/Statistics/0,,12306,00.html |archive-date=30 December 2010}}{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/stats/records |access-date=3 December 2022|title=Premier League Records |publisher=Premierleague.com}}

=Everton=

When Glenn Hoddle arrived as Southampton's manager in January 2000, Hughes did not fit into his plans and he left for Everton in March 2000. He played 16 times over the course of seven months for Everton,{{cite web|title=Mark Hughes|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/players/m/mh/mark-hughes|website=Everton|access-date=22 June 2016}} scoring his only goal against Watford.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/watford/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/00/04/01/SOCCER_Everton.html&TEAMHD=watford&DIV=nat1&TEAM=WATFORD&RH=Watford&PREV_SEASON=1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604214923/http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/watford/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer%2F00%2F04%2F01%2FSOCCER_Everton.html&TEAMHD=watford&DIV=nat1&TEAM=WATFORD&RH=Watford&PREV_SEASON=1998 |archive-date=4 June 2011 |title=Everton 4 Watford 2 |work=Sporting Life |date=1 April 2000 |access-date=31 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}

=Blackburn Rovers=

Hughes left Goodison Park on a free transfer for Blackburn Rovers in October 2000, moving outside the top division for the first time in his playing career in 2000–01. He played a key role in getting Blackburn promoted from Division One in 2001. He also lifted the League Cup with Blackburn in February 2002,{{cite news |title=Cole strike stuns Spurs |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/worthington_cup/1834988.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2002 |access-date=20 September 2009 }} before finally hanging up his boots in July 2002 a few months short of his 39th birthday.{{cite news |title=Mark Hughes|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/wales/2577591.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=31 December 2002|access-date=20 September 2009 }}

Hughes's final career goal came in a 2–1 Premier League defeat to Leicester City on 30 March 2002. At the time, he was the second oldest player to score in the Premier League, behind Stuart Pearce.

International career

Hughes scored just 17 minutes into his Wales debut, scoring the winning goal against England on 2 May 1984.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesw/wal-intres80.html |title=Wales – International Results 1980–1989 – Details |date=20 May 2004 |access-date=2 June 2013 |first=Barrie |website=RSSSF |last=Courtney}} He went on to play 72 times for his country, scoring 16 times.

Managerial career

=Wales=

Hughes was appointed as head coach of the Wales national team in 1999,{{cite web|url=http://www.dragonsoccer.co.uk/news0899.htm |title=Latest news – August 1999 |website=Dragonsoccer.co.uk |access-date=20 September 2009}} while still playing elite club football for a few more seasons. Initially appointed on a temporary basis alongside Neville Southall to replace Bobby Gould, Hughes had soon done enough to earn himself a long-term contract, with Southall eventually leaving the set-up.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2004/07/England_vWales_HughesProfile.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20050406192228/http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2004/07/England_vWales_HughesProfile.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 April 2005 |title=On familiar ground |website=TheFA.com |date=7 October 2004 |access-date=2 June 2013 |first=Dean |last=Jones}} When he took over, Wales were going through a bad patch but in the five years with Hughes in charge, Wales came close to qualifying for UEFA Euro 2004. In their Euro 2004 qualifying group, Wales ended up second, beating Italy 2–1 in Cardiff in the process, but was denied a place in the final tournament after losing to Russia in the playoffs.{{cite web|title=Russia break Welsh hearts|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/wales/3275199.stm|website=BBC Sport|access-date=22 June 2016}}

=Blackburn Rovers=

Hughes quit the Welsh national side in September 2004 to take charge of Blackburn in the FA Premier League, the last club he had played for.{{cite news |first=Ian |last=Walsh |title=Hughes leaves a void |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_of_wales/3661852.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=16 September 2004 |access-date=4 December 2008 }} His key aim was to keep Blackburn clear of relegation, which he succeeded in doing, while also taking the club to an FA Cup semi-final for the first time in over 40 years.{{cite news |title=Arsenal 3–0 Blackburn |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/4427433.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=16 April 2006 |access-date=4 December 2008 }}

In his second season, he helped Blackburn finish inside the top six of the Premier League and subsequently qualify for the UEFA Cup, beating teams such as Chelsea, Manchester United (twice) and Arsenal en route. After just missing out on the League Cup final, his team sealed their spot in Europe by defeating champions Chelsea 1–0 at home.{{cite news |title=Blackburn 1–0 Chelsea |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/4957422.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=2 May 2006 |access-date=4 December 2008 }} On 4 May 2006, Hughes and assistant Mark Bowen signed new three-year contracts to remain at Blackburn until the summer of 2009.{{cite news |title=Hughes signs new Blackburn deal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7108934.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=23 November 2007 |access-date=4 December 2008 }}

Hughes then set about creating a formidable side at Ewood Park. He entered the transfer market, bringing in players such as Benni McCarthy (£2 million), David Bentley (£500,000), Ryan Nelsen (free), Stephen Warnock (£1.5 million), Roque Santa Cruz (£3.5 million), and Christopher Samba (£400,000). Rovers finished tenth in the Premier League in 2006–07, and reached the UEFA Cup round of 32, where they were knocked out by Bayer Leverkusen 3–2 on aggregate.{{cite news |first=Ian |last=Hughes |title=Bayer Leverkusen 3–2 Blackburn |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6351715.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=14 February 2007 |access-date=4 December 2008 }} Rovers faced Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final, their third consecutive semi-final since Hughes took charge. The match ended in defeat, 2–1.{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=McCarra |title=Ballack's late strike hauls Chelsea to final |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/apr/16/match.blackburn |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=16 April 2007 |access-date=4 December 2008 }} He won the Premier League Manager of the Month award for October 2007,{{cite news |first=Andy |last=Neild|title=Hughes wins manager of month award|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/1823329.hughes_wins_manager_of_month_award/ |work=Lancashire Telegraph |publisher=Newsquest (North West) |date=10 November 2007 |access-date=4 December 2008 }} and eventually led Blackburn to a league finish of seventh in 2007–08, Hughes's final season in charge at Ewood Park.{{cite web|title=2007/08 Barclays Premier League|url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/history/season-2007-08.html|website=Premier League|access-date=22 June 2016}}

During his spell in charge of Blackburn, Hughes's side was accused of being "over-physical" and "dirty" on multiple occasions{{cite news |title=Wenger condemns Rovers' tactics |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4448927.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=16 April 2010 |access-date=25 August 2010 }}{{cite news |first=Oliver |last=Kay |title=Respect, but no friendship between Mark Hughes and Sir Alex Ferguson |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/respect-but-no-friendship-between-mark-hughes-and-sir-alex-ferguson-kb5qq8wbkj9 |work=The Times |publisher=Times Newspapers |location=London |date=29 November 2008 |access-date=25 August 2010 }}{{cite web |first=Nick |last=Ive |title=Downes: Who says Blackburn are a dirty side |url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/downes-who-says-blackburn-dirty-4254689 |work=Bracknell Forest Standard |publisher=S&B Media |date=27 March 2008 |access-date=31 December 2013 }} and the club finished bottom of the Premier League disciplinary table in all four of Hughes's seasons in charge.{{cite web|title=Premier League Statistics |url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/Statistics |work=Premier League |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127233054/http://www.premierleague.com/page/Statistics |archive-date=27 November 2011}}

=Manchester City=

On 2 June 2008, Manchester City sacked manager Sven-Göran Eriksson.{{cite news |title=Eriksson leaves Manchester City |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7430827.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=2 June 2008 |access-date=4 December 2008 }} Interest was also reported from Chelsea, however, who had recently sacked their manager, Avram Grant.{{cite news |first=Sandy |last=MacAskill |title=Mark Hughes gives Chelsea 48 hours to make an approach before he decides on Man City|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/mancity/2302268/Mark-Hughes-gives-Chelsea-48-hours-to-make-an-approach-before-he-decides-on-Man-City.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222011005/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/mancity/2302268/Mark-Hughes-gives-Chelsea-48-hours-to-make-an-approach-before-he-decides-on-Man-City.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 February 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=3 June 2008 |access-date=4 December 2008 }} Blackburn confirmed on 2 June that they had agreed to allow Hughes to talk to City.{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Davies|title=Reluctant Blackburn clear Hughes's path to City |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/jun/02/premierleague.manchestercity1|work=The Guardian |location=London |date=2 June 2008 |access-date=4 December 2008 }} The following day, Blackburn agreed to a then-world record compensation package for Hughes to take over as manager of Manchester City, and he was appointed as head coach on 4 June 2008 on a three-year contract.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7431155.stm|title=Hughes becomes Man City manager |first=Phil |last=McNulty |work=BBC Sport |date=4 June 2008 |access-date=4 June 2008}}

Following the appointment, Manchester City's executive chairman Garry Cook stated, "The Club intends to invest in new players as well as securing the long term services of key members of the current first team squad. Mark has already identified some of the players and backroom staff that he wants to see here at City, and we will begin the process of recruiting them immediately."{{cite web |url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=6610904 |title=Manchester City appoint Mark Hughes |first=Tim |last=Oscroft |website=mcfc.co.uk |date=4 June 2008 |access-date=4 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605203848/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid=%7bDBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80%7d&newsid=6610904 |archive-date=5 June 2008 |url-status=dead }} The players who did arrive were , Tal Ben Haim, Vincent Kompany, Shaun Wright-Phillips (returning from Chelsea) and Pablo Zabaleta. Hughes's first match in charge resulted in a 4–2 loss to Aston Villa at Villa Park but was followed up with 3–0 wins against West Ham and Sunderland.{{cite web|title=Sunderland 0–3 Man City|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7578481.stm|website=BBC Sport|access-date=22 June 2016}}

On 1 September 2008, Manchester City were taken over by the Abu Dhabi United investment group,{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Smith|title=Arabian business group to complete Manchester City takeover|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/arabian-business-group-to-complete-manchester-city-takeover-mjnmpllrh8v |work=The Times |publisher=Times Newspapers |location=London |date=1 September 2008 |access-date=4 December 2008 }} who made large amounts of transfer funds available to Hughes, allowing City to break the British transfer record and sign Robinho from Real Madrid for £32.5 million.{{cite news |first=James |last=Ducker |title=Manchester City pounce with £34.2m deal for Robinho|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/manchester-city-pounce-with-pound342m-deal-for-robinho-pjdddmwz0t5 |work=The Times |publisher=Times Newspapers |location=London |date=2 September 2008 |access-date=4 December 2008 }} Hughes was very active in the January 2009 transfer window, signing Wayne Bridge from Chelsea, Craig Bellamy from West Ham and Shay Given from Newcastle, as well as Nigel de Jong from Hamburger SV. City finished tenth in Hughes's first season with the club, as well as reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup. City's home form was among the best in the League, but their away form was among the worst.{{cite web|title=Pellegrini's Man City in worst form since last days of Hughes tenure|url=http://www.espnfc.co.uk/manchester-city/story/2385828/manuel-pellegrini-manchester-city-in-worst-form-since-last-days-of-hughes-tenure|website=ESPN|access-date=22 June 2016}}

In the summer of 2009, Hughes added Gareth Barry from Aston Villa, Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn, and Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Touré from Arsenal to his squad, while Carlos Tevez also joined after his two-year deal with Manchester United expired. In addition, Hughes signed defenders Joleon Lescott from Everton for a reported £22 million, and Sylvinho – a former Arsenal and double Champions League winner with Barcelona – on a free transfer.{{cite news |title=Man City sign Brazilian Sylvinho|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8218964.stm |work=BBC Sport|date=24 August 2009 |access-date=20 September 2009 }}

Hughes started the 2009–10 Premier League campaign with a 2–0 away win at former club Blackburn,{{cite news |first=Ian |last=Hughes|title=Blackburn 0–2 Manchester City |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8197359.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=15 August 2009 |access-date=20 September 2009 }} followed by a 1–0 win over another former club, Barcelona, in the Joan Gamper Trophy at a capacity Camp Nou.{{cite web|url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-reports/2009/August/Barcelona-v-City |title=Barcelona 0 City 1 – News – Manchester City FC|website=mcfc.co.uk |publisher=Manchester City FC|access-date=20 September 2009}} City then won 1–0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Eastlands,{{cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty |title=Man City 1–0 Wolves|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8210640.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=22 August 2009 |access-date=20 September 2009 }} followed by Crystal Palace in the League Cup 2–0 and Portsmouth 1–0 to maintain a 100% clean sheet start to the season.{{cite news |first=Sam|last=Sheringham |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8205748.stm |title=Crystal Palace 0–2 Man City |work=BBC Sport |date=27 August 2009 |access-date=20 September 2009 }} City continued in good form, beating Arsenal 4–2 and West Ham 3–1 either side of a 4–3 derby day defeat to Manchester United. City would then, however, go on a run of seven-straight draws.{{cite web|title=Man Utd 4–3 Man City |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8256750.stm |work=BBC Sport|access-date=30 May 2013|date=21 September 2009}}

Manchester City beat Scunthorpe United 5–1 and Arsenal 3–0 in the League Cup to reach their first semi-final since 1981. Hughes then led City to their first victory over his former club Chelsea for five years with a 2–1 victory. That last victory was one of only two wins in 11 successive Premier League matches, and Hughes left City before their League Cup two-legged semi-final against Manchester United; he was sacked on 19 December 2009 and replaced by Roberto Mancini.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8422676.stm |title=Mark Hughes sacked as Man City appoint Mancini manager |work=BBC Sport |date=19 December 2009 |access-date=22 January 2016}}

=Fulham=

On 29 July 2010, Hughes became the new manager of Fulham, following the departure of Roy Hodgson to Liverpool. Hughes agreed a two-year contract with the London side and was officially unveiled to the media on 3 August 2010, before his first match as manager on 7 August against Werder Bremen. Hughes was joined at Fulham by his backroom team of Eddie Niedzwiecki, Mark Bowen and Kevin Hitchcock.{{cite news |title=Mark Hughes named new manager of Premier League Fulham |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8866133.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=29 July 2010 |access-date=29 July 2010 }} His first league match in charge of the Cottagers came exactly a week later, when they drew 0–0 at Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the Premier League season, followed by a resolute display against Manchester United in a 2–2 draw at Craven Cottage.{{cite news |first=Les |last=Roopanarine|title=Bolton 0–0 Fulham |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8906326.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=14 August 2010 |access-date=25 August 2010 }}

Draws followed in four of Fulham's next five Premier League matches against Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers, Everton and West Ham, with a solitary 2–1 home win over Wolves. This meant that at that stage – including the seven-draw streak at Manchester City before his dismissal the season before – all but two (86%) of Hughes's last fifteen Premiership matches had been drawn. The bizarre run, exclusively made up of draws or 2–1 results, continued with 2–1 defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion in the second half of October 2010. At the end of the 2010–11 season, Hughes led Fulham to an eighth-placed finish in the league and UEFA Europa League qualification through the Fair Play league.{{cite web|title=Fulham gain Europa League spot through Fair Play league|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13492544|website=BBC Sport|access-date=22 June 2016}}

Hughes resigned as manager of Fulham on 2 June 2011, having spent less than 11 months at the club. Following his departure, he said, "As a young, ambitious manager I wish to move on to further my experiences."{{cite news |title=Mark Hughes resigns as Fulham manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13628221 |work=BBC Sport |date=2 June 2011 |access-date=22 January 2016}} Fulham owner Mohamed Al-Fayed hit back at Hughes for questioning the club's ambition, calling him a "strange man" and a "flop" and said he rescued him from becoming a forgotten man after being sacked by Manchester City.{{cite news |title=Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed hits back at 'flop' Mark Hughes|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15438924.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=24 October 2011 |access-date=17 December 2011 }} In September 2013, Hughes said he made a mistake in leaving Fulham when he did.{{cite news|title=Stoke City manager Mark Hughes admits walking away from Fulham was a mistake|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/10353588/Stoke-City-manager-Mark-Hughes-admits-walking-away-from-Fulham-was-a-mistake.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/10353588/Stoke-City-manager-Mark-Hughes-admits-walking-away-from-Fulham-was-a-mistake.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=3 October 2013}}{{cbignore}}

=Queens Park Rangers=

On 10 January 2012, Hughes agreed terms with Queens Park Rangers and signed a two-and-a-half-year contract as their new manager, replacing the recently sacked Neil Warnock.{{cite news |title=Mark Hughes confirmed as new Queens Park Rangers manager |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16465289.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=10 January 2012 |access-date=10 January 2012 }} Hughes's first match in charge of QPR came on 15 January 2012, a 1–0 defeat away to Newcastle.{{cite news |title=Newcastle 1–0 QPR |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16459089 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 January 2012|access-date=19 November 2012 }} Hughes's first win as QPR manager came on 17 January 2012, a 1–0 victory over Milton Keynes Dons in a FA Cup third round replay at Loftus Road.{{cite news |title=QPR 1–0 MK Dons |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16481536 |work=BBC Sport|date=17 January 2012 |access-date=19 November 2012}} His first Premier League victory was on 21 January 2012, QPR beating Wigan Athletic 3–1 at home.{{cite news |title=QPR 3–1 Wigan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16559527 |work=BBC Sport |date=21 January 2012|access-date=19 November 2012 }}

In January 2012, Hughes brought in two defenders in Nedum Onuoha and Taye Taiwo and two strikers in Djibril Cissé and Bobby Zamora.{{cite web|title=QPR complete the signing of striker Bobby Zamora from Fulham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16811307|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 July 2013|date=31 January 2012}}{{cite web|title=Nedum Onuoha signs for QPR from Manchester City|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16631999|work=BBC Sport|date=19 January 2012|access-date=28 July 2013}}{{cite web|title=Taye Taiwo vows to make impact at QPR|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16646855|work=BBC Sport|date=20 January 2012|access-date=28 July 2013}}{{cite web|title=QPR sign Lazio's Djibril Cisse on a two-and-a-half-year deal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16783436|work=BBC Sport|date=31 January 2012|access-date=28 July 2013}} Cissé made an immediate impact scoring on his debut against Aston Villa.{{cite web|title=Aston Villa 2–2 QPR|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16714062|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 July 2013|date=1 February 2012}} Defeats against Wolves, Blackburn and Fulham, however, prevented QPR from pulling themselves away from relegation trouble.{{cite web|title=Mark Hughes remains confident QPR will avoid relegation|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17168661|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 July 2013|date=25 February 2012}} Victories over Liverpool, Arsenal, Stoke City, Swansea City and Tottenham meant that they went into the final match of the season two points ahead of Bolton.{{cite web|title=Mark Hughes: QPR survival more important than Man City revenge|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18040565|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 July 2013|date=11 May 2012}} They faced Hughes's former club Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium, who needed a win to secure the Premier League title. Despite scoring twice through Cissé and Jamie Mackie, two added time goals from Edin Džeko and Sergio Agüero earned City a dramatic victory and championship title.{{cite news |title=Manchester City 3–2 QPR |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17973148 |work=BBC Sport |date=13 May 2012|access-date=19 November 2012}} Bolton's failure to beat Stoke, however, meant that QPR avoided relegation to the Championship.{{cite web|title=QPR manager Mark Hughes 'will not face drop again'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18053404|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 July 2013|date=13 May 2012}}

In the summer of 2012, QPR brought in a large number of high-profile signings with the intent of establishing themselves as a Premier League club. In came Ryan Nelsen, Andrew Johnson, Robert Green, Samba Diakité, Fabio, Park Ji-sung and Junior Hoilett all before the start of the season.{{cite web|title=Premier League 2012–13 season: Club-by-club guide|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18857152|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 July 2013|date=17 August 2012}} Rangers' new-look squad, however, got off to an awful start as they crashed to a 5–0 home defeat against Swansea on the opening day of the 2012–13 Premier League season.{{cite web|title=QPR 0–5 Swansea|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19221292|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 July 2013|date=18 August 2012}} Hughes branded his players performance as "embarrassing".{{cite web|title=Mark Hughes embarrassed at QPR defeat by Swansea|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19308391|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 July 2013|date=18 August 2012}} Hughes then signed José Bosingwa, Júlio César and Esteban Granero but saw no improvement in results, going 12 matches without victory.{{cite news |title=Mark Hughes backed by Tony Fernandes despite QPR's poor start |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/oct/02/mark-hughes-tony-fernandes-qpr |work=The Guardian |date=2 October 2012 |access-date=6 October 2012 }} He was sacked as manager on 23 November 2012 after the team suffered a 3–1 home defeat to Southampton six days earlier and replaced by Harry Redknapp.{{cite news|title=Mark Hughes sacked as Queens Park Rangers manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20386628|work=BBC Sport|access-date=23 November 2012|date=23 November 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/9698309/Queens-Park-Rangers-sack-manager-Mark-Hughes-appoint-Harry-Redknapp.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/9698309/Queens-Park-Rangers-sack-manager-Mark-Hughes-appoint-Harry-Redknapp.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Queens Park Rangers sack manager Mark Hughes appoint Harry Redknapp|date=23 November 2012|work=Daily Telegraph UK|access-date=23 November 2012 }}{{cbignore}}

=Stoke City=

==2013–14==

Hughes was appointed manager of Stoke City on 30 May 2013, signing a three-year contract after taking over from fellow Welshman Tony Pulis.{{cite web|title=Mark Hughes: Stoke City appoint former QPR manager|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22686204?|work=BBC Sport|access-date=30 May 2013|date=30 May 2013}}{{cite web|title=Three-year deal for Mark Hughes as new Stoke City era begins|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/story-19131617-detail/story.html?#axzz2Ufc641kI|work=The Sentinel|access-date=30 May 2013|date=30 May 2013}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Speaking after being announced as Stoke's new manager, Hughes admitted that he had a point to prove following his disappointing spell at QPR.{{cite web|title=Mark Hughes at Stoke: QPR criticism will motivate me|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22715923|work=BBC Sport|access-date=30 May 2013|date=30 May 2013}}{{cite web|title=Mark Hughes: New Stoke manager facing several big challenges|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22722726|work=BBC Sport|access-date=31 May 2013|date=30 May 2013}} Hughes's first task was to release Rory Delap, Mamady Sidibe, Matthew Upson, Dean Whitehead, Carlo Nash and Matty Lund, at the same time giving Jermaine Pennant a new contract.{{cite web|title=Potters Announce Retained List|url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/potters-announce-retained-list-856356.aspx|work=Stoke City F.C.|access-date=6 June 2013}}{{cite web|title=New Deal For Pennant|url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/pennant-contract-871588.aspx|work=Stoke City F.C.|access-date=18 June 2013}} He made his first signing on 28 June 2013 in Dutch international left-back Erik Pieters from PSV for a fee of €3.6 million (£3 million).{{cite web|title=Pieters A Potter|url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/pieters-a-potter-886234.aspx|work=Stoke City F.C.|access-date=28 June 2013}}{{cite web|title=Stoke City sign Erik Pieters from PSV Eindhoven for £3m|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23108102|work=BBC Sport|access-date=28 June 2013}} Hughes's first match in charge of Stoke on 17 August 2013 ended in a 1–0 defeat at Liverpool.{{cite web|title=Liverpool 1–0 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23653990|work=BBC Sport|access-date=17 August 2013}} Hughes's first win as Stoke manager came in his next match as Stoke beat Crystal Palace 2–1 at the Britannia Stadium.{{cite web|title=Stoke 2–1 Crystal Palace|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23736812|work=BBC Sport|access-date=31 August 2013}} This was followed up by a 1–0 win away at West Ham.{{cite web|title=West Ham 0–1 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23822679|work=BBC Sport|access-date=24 September 2013}} On 2 September 2013, transfer deadline day, Hughes brought in Austrian forward Marko Arnautović from Werder Bremen and Stephen Ireland on loan from Aston Villa.{{cite web|title=Transfer deadline day: Marko Arnautovic signs for Stoke City|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23925792|work=BBC Sport|access-date=24 September 2013}}{{cite web|title=Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland joins Stoke on loan|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/8903403?|work=Sky Sports|access-date=24 September 2013}} Meanwhile, Michael Kightly, Cameron Jerome and Ryan Shotton all departed the club on long-term loans.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23939663|title=Wigan: Stoke defender Ryan Shotton joins on loan deal|work=BBC Sport|date=2 September 2013|access-date=3 September 2013}}{{cite web|title=Crystal Palace sign Stoke striker Cameron Jerome on loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23939888|work=BBC Sport|access-date=3 September 2013}}{{cite web|title=Stoke winger Michael Kightly in Burnley loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23938853|work=BBC Sport|access-date=3 September 2013}}

Stoke soon lost their early form, however, and went through September and October without a Premier League win, picking up just two points and scoring only three goals.{{cite web|title=Mark Hughes denies he is still searching for his best team|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/story-20028716-detail/story.html?|work=Stoke Sentinel|access-date=4 November 2013}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Stoke improved in November and December, going a run of one defeat in seven matches, including a 3–2 win over Chelsea on 7 December 2013.{{cite web|title=Stoke 3–2 Chelsea|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25164178|work=BBC Sport|access-date=27 December 2013}} December ended badly for Stoke and Hughes, however, as they were on the receiving end of a 5–1 defeat at Newcastle in which Stoke were reduced to nine men and Hughes himself was sent off.{{cite web|title=Mark Hughes: Stoke City manager charged by FA|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25529087|work=BBC Sport|access-date=27 December 2013}} Stoke went through January 2014 in poor form and managed to pick up just a point and a 1–0 defeat at Sunderland on 29 January, leaving the club just above the relegation zone.{{cite web|title=Sunderland 1–0 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25838328|work=BBC Sport|access-date=4 May 2014}} The one piece of transfer activity Hughes did was to swap Kenwyne Jones for Peter Odemwingie in a player-exchange deal with Cardiff City.{{cite web|title=Peter Odemwingie joins Stoke as Kenwyne Jones signs for Cardiff|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25931648|work=BBC Sport|access-date=4 May 2014}} The arrival of Odemwingie enabled Hughes to alter his tactics and formation and it immediately paid off with a 2–1 victory over Manchester United.{{cite web|title=Stoke 2–1 Man United|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25892829|work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 May 2014}} Stoke's form continued to improve and they went through March unbeaten with wins over Arsenal, West Ham, Aston Villa and Hull City. Stoke proceeded to end the season strongly with wins over Newcastle, Fulham and a 2–1 win against West Brom on the final day of the season, which saw Stoke finish in ninth position, their best finish since 1974–75.{{cite web|title=Mark Hughes declares 'Mission Accomplished' as Potters hit 50-point mark|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Stoke-City-Mark-Hughes-declares-Mission/story-21084735-detail/story.html|work=Stoke Sentinel|access-date=12 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512224656/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Stoke-City-Mark-Hughes-declares-Mission/story-21084735-detail/story.html|archive-date=12 May 2014}}

==2014–15==

For the 2014–15 season, Hughes signed Sunderland full-back Phil Bardsley, Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell and Senegalese striker Mame Biram Diouf on free transfers.{{cite web|title=Stoke sign Phil Bardsley from Sunderland on three-year deal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27529040|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 September 2014}}{{cite web|title=Steve Sidwell: Stoke City sign former Fulham midfielder|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27769534|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 September 2014}} Also arriving for small fees were Slovakian defender Dionatan Teixeira and Barcelona forward Bojan, while wingers Victor Moses and Oussama Assaidi joined on season-long loans.{{cite web|title=Stoke complete signings of Mame Biram Diouf and Dionatan Teixeira|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27801520|website=BBC Sport|access-date=11 June 2014}}{{cite web|title=Bojan Krkic: Stoke sign Barcelona forward on four-year deal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28430289|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 September 2014}}{{cite web|title=Victor Moses: Chelsea winger joins Stoke on season-long loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28818575|website=BBC Sport|access-date=16 August 2014}}{{cite web|title=Transfer deadline day: Stoke sign Oussama Assaidi from Liverpool|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29020948|website=BBC Sport|access-date=2 September 2014}} Departing were Matthew Etherington, Michael Kightly, Cameron Jerome and Ryan Shotton.{{cite web|title=Potters Retained List|url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/potters-retained-list-1570985.aspx|work=Stoke City F.C.|access-date=23 May 2014}}{{cite web|title=Michael Kightly joins Premier League new boys Burnley|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Stoke-City-Michael-Kightly-joins-Premier-League/story-21299430-detail/story.html?|website=Stoke Sentinel|access-date=27 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630040547/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Stoke-City-Michael-Kightly-joins-Premier-League/story-21299430-detail/story.html|archive-date=30 June 2014}}{{cite web|title=Norwich City sign Carlos Cuellar and Cameron Jerome|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28869774|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 September 2014}}{{cite web|title=Ryan Shotton: Derby County sign Stoke City defender on loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28929037|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 September 2014}} Stoke had a mixed start to the 2014–15 season, losing 1–0 to Aston Villa on the opening day, drawing 1–1 with ten-men Hull City, yet defeating reigning Premier League champions Manchester City 1–0.{{cite web|title=Man City 0–1 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28907276|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 September 2014}} Stoke's inconsistency continued through the autumn as Stoke managed just three wins beating Newcastle, Swansea and Tottenham.{{cite web|title=Stoke 1–0 Newcastle|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29305924|website=BBC Sport|access-date=30 January 2015}}{{cite web|title=Stoke 2–1 Swansea|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29586592|website=BBC Sport|access-date=30 January 2015}}{{cite web|title=Tottenham 1–2 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29868773|website=BBC Sport|access-date=30 January 2015}} The club then suffered frustrating home defeats against newly promoted Burnley and Leicester City.{{cite web|title=Stoke 0–1 Leicester|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29090535|website=BBC Sport|access-date=30 January 2015}}{{cite web|title=Stoke 1–2 Burnley|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30065845|website=BBC Sport|access-date=30 January 2015}} Stoke found form in December beating Arsenal 3–2, Everton 1–0 and West Brom 2–0.{{cite web|title=Stoke 3–2 Arsenal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30257121|website=BBC Sport|access-date=30 January 2015}}{{cite web|title=Everton 0–1 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30544231|website=BBC Sport|access-date=30 January 2015}}{{cite web|title=Stoke 2–0 West Brom|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30566675|website=BBC Sport|access-date=30 January 2015}}

In January 2015, Hughes began talks with the Stoke board of directors about extending his contract with the club.{{cite web|title=Mark Hughes: Stoke City plan contract talks with manager|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31068604|website=BBC Sport|access-date=30 January 2015}} Hughes's only new arrival in January was that of German centre back Philipp Wollscheid from Bayer Leverkusen.{{cite web|title=Stoke sign German international Philipp Wollscheid on loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30716936|website=BBC Sport|access-date=7 January 2015}} Stoke suffered a number in injuries to key players in January and February, most notably to Shawcross and Bojan.{{cite web|title=Bojan Krkic: Stoke striker ruled out for season with knee injury|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31006307|website=BBC Sport|access-date=1 February 2015}} In February, Stoke suffered back to back 4–1 defeats against Manchester City and then in the FA Cup against Blackburn.{{cite web|title=Blackburn 4–1 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31423138|website=BBC Sport|access-date=25 May 2015}} Hughes signed a new contract with Stoke in March 2015 to keep him contracted until the summer of 2019.{{cite web|title=EXCLUSIVE: Hughes Predicts Bright Times Ahead|url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/exclusive-hughes-predicts-bright-times-ahead-2361825.aspx|website=Stoke City|access-date=27 March 2015}} City then went a run of three wins against Aston Villa, Hull and Everton and then three defeats against West Brom, Crystal Palace and Chelsea. Stoke ended the season strongly with victories over Southampton (2–1), Tottenham (3–0) and Liverpool (6–1), ensuring a second consecutive ninth-place finish.{{cite web|title=Stoke 2–1 Southampton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32262295|website=BBC Sport|access-date=20 April 2015}}{{cite web|title=Stoke 3–0 Tottenham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32561784|website=BBC Sport|access-date=11 May 2015}}{{cite web|title=Stoke 6–1 Liverpool|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32770765|website=BBC Sport|access-date=25 May 2015}}

==2015–16==

Hughes made a number of alterations to his squad in preparation for the 2015–16 campaign. Leaving the club were the long-serving trio of Asmir Begović, Robert Huth and Steven Nzonzi, with Stoke receiving their record transfer fee in the process.{{cite web|title=Robert Huth: Leicester sign ex-Germany defender from Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33259554|website=BBC Sport|access-date=30 June 2015}}{{Cite news |title=Nzonzi Seals Sevilla Switch |url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/nzonzi-seals-sevilla-switch-2536210.aspx |website=stokecityfc.com |publisher=Stoke City FC |date=9 July 2015}}{{cite web|title=Asmir Begovic: Chelsea sign goalkeeper from Stoke City|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33270636|website=BBC Sport|access-date=13 July 2015}} With the money available, Hughes broke Stoke's transfer record by paying Inter Milan £12 million for Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri.{{cite web|title=Shaqiri Signs in Club Record Deal|url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/shaqiri-signs-in-club-record-deal-2611120.aspx|website=Stoke City|access-date=11 August 2015}} Hughes also brought in Spanish striker Joselu for £5.75 million, Dutch midfielder Ibrahim Afellay, Shay Given, Jakob Haugaard, Glen Johnson and Marco van Ginkel.{{cite web|title=Joselu: Stoke City complete £5.75m signing of Hannover striker|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33154055|website=BBC Sport|access-date=30 June 2015}}{{Cite news |title=Stoke Swoop For Afellay |url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/club-confirm-ibrahim-afellay-signing-2575152.aspx |website=stokecityfc.com |publisher=Stoke City FC |date=27 July 2015}}{{Cite news |title=It's A Given |url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/stoke-city-shay-given-2539538.aspx |website=stokecityfc.com |publisher=Stoke City FC |date=10 July 2015}}{{cite web|title=Jakob Haugaard: Stoke City sign Danish keeper on three-year deal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32903391|website=BBC Sport|access-date=27 May 2015}}{{cite web|title=Johnson Joins Potters|url=http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/johnson-joins-potters-2542327.aspx|website=Stoke City|access-date=12 July 2015}}{{cite web |title=Van Ginkel moves to Stoke on loan |url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2015/07/van-ginkel-moves-to-stoke-on-loan.html |access-date=10 July 2015 |website=chelseafc.com |publisher=Chelsea FC }} The club had a poor start to the season, failing to win any of their first six fixtures, losing three of them. Stoke recovered well, however, winning their next three matches against AFC Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Swansea.{{cite web|title=Stoke 2–1 Bournemouth|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34299638|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 February 2016}}{{cite web|title=Aston Villa 0–1 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34366599|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 February 2016}}{{cite web|title=Swansea 0–1 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34502347|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 February 2016}} Stoke's improvement continued through November and December with victories against Premier League champions Chelsea, Southampton, Manchester City and Manchester United; the team's style of football was praised by the national press.{{cite web|title=Stoke City show their remake as great entertainers is thrillingly under way|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/dec/07/stoke-city-hughes-manchester-city-bojan-shaqiri-arnautovic-affelay?|website=The Guardian|access-date=7 December 2015}} Stoke ended 2015 with a dramatic 4–3 win away at Everton, while they also reached the semi-final of the League Cup after defeating Luton Town, Fulham, Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday en route.{{cite web|title=Stoke 2–0 Sheff Wed|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34907303|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 February 2016}}

Stoke started 2016 poorly, falling to West Brom and then Liverpool in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final.{{cite web|title=Stoke 0–1 Liverpool|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35155369|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 February 2016}} The club endured a tough final week of January as they lost 3–0 to both Leicester and Manchester United and were knocked out of the League Cup by Liverpool after losing on penalties, and were also ousted from the FA Cup by Crystal Palace.{{cite web|title=Leicester 3–0 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35331047|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 February 2016}}{{cite web|title=Liverpool 0–1 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35349469|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 February 2016}}{{cite web|title=Crystal Palace 1–0 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35389007|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 February 2016}}{{cite web|title=Man United 3–0 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35406688|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 February 2016}} In the January transfer window, Hughes let Steve Sidwell leave as well as cutting short Marco van Ginkel's loan, while he broke the club's transfer record he had set in the summer after signing French midfielder Giannelli Imbula from Porto for a fee of £18.3 million.{{cite web|title=Transfer deadline day: Stoke City sign Giannelli Imbula from Porto|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35466315|website=BBC Sport|access-date=4 February 2016}} Stoke's form improved in February and March as they defeated Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Watford and earned a first Premier League draw at Chelsea.{{cite web|title=Chelsea 1–1 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35675904|website=BBC Sport|access-date=18 May 2016}} Following a season-ending injury to goalkeeper Jack Butland while on international duty, however, Stoke lost their defensive organisation:{{cite news|title=Jack Butland: England and Stoke keeper likely to miss Euro 2016|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35906176|work=BBC Sport|access-date=27 March 2016}} They let a 2–0 lead slip against Swansea to draw 2–2 and then went and conceded four goals in three successive matches, against Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City.{{cite web|title=Man City 4–0 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36061069|website=BBC Sport|access-date=25 April 2016}} Hughes's team were able to end the season on a positive as they beat West Ham 2–1 on the final day of the season, enough to secure a third-straight ninth-place finish.{{cite web|title=Stoke 2–1 West Ham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36240338|website=BBC Sport|access-date=15 May 2016}}

==2016–17==

Hughes spent £18 million in July 2016 to bring in Welsh midfielder Joe Allen and Egyptian winger Ramadan Sobhi,{{cite web|title=Joe Allen: Liverpool midfielder completes move to Stoke City|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/36850814|website=BBC Sport|access-date=25 July 2016}}{{cite web|title=Ramadan Sobhi: Stoke sign Egyptian winger from Al Ahly|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36885225|website=BBC Sport|access-date=25 July 2016}} while defender Bruno Martins Indi and striker Wilfried Bony both joined on season-long loans on 31 August 2016 from Porto and Manchester City respectively.{{cite web|title=Wilfried Bony: Stoke City sign Man City striker on loan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37230375|website=BBC Sport|access-date=18 September 2016}} Departing the club were Joselu, Philipp Wollscheid and long-serving defender Marc Wilson, who left for Bournemouth after criticizing Hughes's defensive training on social media.{{cite web|title=Marc Wilson facing the music after Mark Hughes criticism|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/stoke-city-marc-wilson-facing-the-music-after-mark-hughes-criticism/story-29593906-detail/story.html|website=Stoke Sentinel|access-date=14 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814002642/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/stoke-city-marc-wilson-facing-the-music-after-mark-hughes-criticism/story-29593906-detail/story.html|archive-date=14 August 2016}} Stoke began the 2016–17 season in poor form, drawing 1–1 away at Middlesbrough, then losing 4–1 to Manchester City, 1–0 to Everton and 4–0 to Tottenham, and 4–1 to Crystal Palace with chairman Peter Coates heavily criticising the team's performances.{{cite web|title=We fell to pieces fumes chairman Peter Coates|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/stoke-city-we-fell-to-pieces-fumes-chairman-peter-coates/story-29707948-detail/story.html|website=Stoke Sentinel|access-date=12 September 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913154854/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/stoke-city-we-fell-to-pieces-fumes-chairman-peter-coates/story-29707948-detail/story.html|archive-date=13 September 2016}}{{cite web|title=Sick Stoke and Mark Hughes need to find cure for defensive woes|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/sep/11/sick-stoke-mark-hughes-cure-defensive-woes?|work=The Guardian|access-date=18 September 2016}} Results improved in October and November and by December Stoke had moved back into a mid-table position.{{cite web|title=Stoke 2–2 Burnley|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38113851|website=BBC Sport|access-date=31 May 2017}} However Stoke picked up just two points over the Christmas period and Hughes came under strong criticism from supporters after his side lost a 2–0 lead against 10-man Leicester City.{{cite web|title=Stoke City 2, Leicester City 2 Match Comment: No excuses for sorry capitulation|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/stoke-city-2-leicester-city-2-match-comment-no-excuses-for-sorry-capitulation/story-29991845-detail/story.html|website=Stoke Sentinel|access-date=31 May 2017}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In the January transfer window, Hughes brought in long term transfer target Saido Berahino from West Brom.{{cite web|title=Saido Berahino: Stoke complete deal to sign West Brom's 23-year-old striker|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38696547|website=BBC Sport|access-date=31 May 2017}} Performances until the end of the season were underwhelming with six wins from 19, with Stoke securing their Premier League status with two matches remaining.{{cite web|title=Bournemouth 2–2 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39754031|website=BBC Sport|access-date=31 May 2017}} A 1–0 win against Southampton on the final day of the season, meant that Stoke ended the campaign in 13th place, their lowest finish under Hughes.{{cite web|title=Southampton 0–1 Stoke|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39912023|website=BBC Sport|access-date=31 May 2017}}{{cite web|title=Southampton 0, Stoke City 1: Fans remain behind us says boss Mark Hughes|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/southampton-0-stoke-city-1-mark-hughes/story-30342898-detail/story.html|website=Stoke Sentinel|access-date=31 May 2017}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

==2017–18==

Stoke made a poor start to the new season. Hughes came under intense scrutiny by supporters throughout the season, particularly after a 5–0 thumping by Chelsea, where Hughes rested several first team regulars to prepare for a home match against Newcastle United; Stoke also lost this game, resulting in calls for him to be sacked.{{Cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11701/11198557/stoke-city-have-sacked-manager-mark-hughes|title=Stoke City have sacked Mark Hughes|publisher=Sky Sports|date=6 January 2018}} By January, Stoke had won only 5 of 22 games, occupying a place in the relegation zone with 20 points. Stoke's run of poor form included a demoralising 3–0 home defeat to West Ham United, where former player Marko Arnautović scored and celebrated in front of the home fans after having been sold in the summer,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42290587|title=Stoke City 0–3 West Ham United|work=BBC Sport|date=16 December 2017}} as well as several heavy defeats to clubs challenging for the top six positions, including a 7–2 away defeat to Manchester City{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41534300|title=Manchester City 7–2 Stoke City|work=BBC Sport|date=14 October 2017}} and a 5–1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42205608|title=Stoke City 1–5 Tottenham Hotspur|work=BBC Sport|date=9 December 2017}}

After a 2–1 defeat in the FA Cup to League Two side Coventry City on 6 January 2018, Hughes was sacked. Stoke had the worst defensive record in the Premier League at the time of his sacking, having conceded a total of 47 goals, nine more than West Ham who had the second-worst record. This was in spite of several defensive signings being made in the summer of 2017, including the £18 million signing of Kevin Wimmer from Tottenham Hotspur,{{cite news |title=Kevin Wimmer: Stoke sign Tottenham defender for £18m |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41079784 |access-date=26 August 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=29 August 2017}} the £7 million permanent signing of Bruno Martins Indi,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40899465|title=Bruno Martins Indi: Stoke City sign Dutch defender on five-year deal for £7m|work=BBC Sport|date=11 August 2017}} and the season-long loan of Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma.

=Southampton=

File:Maurizio Sarri Mark Hughes.jpg in 2018]]

On 14 March 2018, Hughes succeeded Mauricio Pellegrino as manager of relegation-threatened Premier League club Southampton, signing a short-term contract for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.{{cite news |title=Mark Hughes: Southampton appoint former Stoke manager until end of season |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43403577 |work=BBC Sport |date=14 March 2018 |access-date=12 May 2018}} His first game was a 2–0 win at Wigan Athletic in an FA Cup quarter final.{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Paul|title=Mark Hughes starts Southampton reign in style with FA Cup win at Wigan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/18/wigan-athletic-southampton-fa-cup-quarter-final-match-report|access-date=18 March 2018|work=The Guardian|date=18 March 2018}} On 25 May 2018, after a season that saw the Saints retain their Premier League status, the club announced that Hughes had signed a new three-year contract. His assistants, Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki, also signed long-term contracts with the club.{{cite news | title = Mark Hughes: Southampton boss signs new three-year contract | work = BBC Sport | date = 25 May 2018 | access-date = 26 May 2018 | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44262585}}

Despite a number of positive signings in the summer transfer window, Southampton made a poor start to the 2018–19 season and on 2 December 2018, with the club 18th in the table, Hughes was dismissed.{{cite news |title=Mark Hughes: Southampton sack manager after eight months in charge |work=BBC Sport |date=3 December 2018 |access-date=3 December 2018 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46091577}} He was replaced by former RB Leipzig boss Ralph Hasenhüttl.

=Bradford City=

On 24 February 2022, Hughes was appointed manager of Bradford City on a deal until the summer of 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2022/february/mark-hughes-unveiled-as-new-city-manager/|title=Mark Hughes unveiled as new City manager|website=bradfordcityfc.co.uk|access-date=24 February 2022|archive-date=24 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224101320/https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/news/2022/february/mark-hughes-unveiled-as-new-city-manager/|url-status=dead}} This was the first time he had managed a club outside the Premier League.

Hughes was nominated for the League Two Manager of the Month award for September 2022 after Bradford went unbeaten in four matches.{{cite web | url = https://www.efl.com/news/2022/october/sky-bet-league-two-manager-of-the-month-september-nominations/ | title = Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month: September nominations | website = efl.com | date = 4 October 2022 | access-date = 12 March 2023}}{{cite web | url = https://www.efl.com/news/2023/march/sky-bet-league-two-manager-and-player-of-the-month-nominees/ | title = Sky Bet League Two: Manager and Player of the Month nominees | website = efl.com | date = 7 March 2023 | access-date = 12 March 2023}}

On 4 October 2023, Hughes was sacked as manager with Bradford sitting 18th in League Two.{{Cite web |date=4 October 2023 |title=Mark Hughes: Former Wales boss sacked as Bradford City manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67012337 |access-date=4 October 2023 |website=BBC Sport}} It was felt by the Bradford City players that Hughes was trying to shoehorn Premier League tactics into the League Two side, and this ultimately contributed to the lack of success in his second season.{{Cite news|date=16 October 2023|title=Bantams players go public with views on Mark Hughes' tactics |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/23857075.bantams-players-go-public-views-mark-hughes-tactics | access-date=22 October 2023 |work=Telegraph and Argus}}

= Carlisle United =

On 6 February 2025, Hughes was appointed head coach of League Two side Carlisle United.{{Cite web |date=6 February 2025 |title=Mark Hughes named as new Carlisle head coach |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c87dq0y9p1do |access-date=6 February 2025 |website=BBC Sport}} Two days later, he lost his first game in charge, with Carlisle defeated 2–1 at Grimsby Town.{{cite news |title=Town Grimsby Town 2-1 Carlisle United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cly52rjkn2mt |access-date=8 February 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=8 February 2025}}

Personal life

Throughout his career, Hughes has been known by the nickname "Sparky" which he took from the comic of the same name.{{cite web|title=One-on-One with Mark Hughes|url=http://fourfourtwo.com/interviews/one-on-one/178/article.aspx|work=FourFourTwo|access-date=30 May 2013}} Hughes grew up supporting his hometown club, Wrexham.{{cite web|title=Sparky backs Wrexham FC for glory|url=http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/125287/sparky-backs-wrexham-fc-for-glory.aspx?|work=The Leader|access-date=6 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203093514/http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/125287/sparky-backs-wrexham-fc-for-glory.aspx|archive-date=3 February 2016|url-status=dead}} He was awarded an OBE in 2004.{{cite web|title=Hughes awarded OBE| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/wales/3798221.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=31 May 2013|date=11 June 2004}} Hughes has been married to his wife Jill since the mid-1980s. They have two sons, Alex and Curtis, and a daughter, Xenna,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/profile-main-man-of-united-1610783.html|title=Profile: Main man of United|first=Ian|last=Ridley|newspaper=The Independent|date=23 October 2011|access-date=27 January 2021}} who plays hockey for Wales.{{Cite web | title = How a Welsh football icon's daughter is about to overtake him | last = Cole | first = Rob | work = WalesOnline | date = 5 August 2017 | access-date = 3 April 2018 | url = https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/meet-daughter-welsh-football-icon-13436379}} Hughes wrote his autobiography in 1990 entitled Sparky – Barcelona, Bayern and Back.{{cite web|title=Manchester United Player & Manager Biographies & Autobiographies|url=http://www.prideofmanchester.com/sport/mufc-books-players2.htm|work=prideofmanchester.com|access-date=31 May 2013}}

Career statistics

=Club=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bounder.friardale.co.uk/Appearances/Hp-Hz.htm |title=Mark Hughes Chelsea stats |publisher=Bounder.Friardale.co.uk|access-date=26 November 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/playermenu/hughes.html |title=Mark Hughes Man. United stats |publisher=Stretfordend.co.uk|access-date=26 November 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.navarrasport.com/noticias/osasuna-elimino-al-barca-en-1987 |title=Osasuna eliminó al Barça en 1987 |publisher=Navarrasport.com |access-date=26 November 2012 |language=es |archive-date=30 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230125128/http://www.navarrasport.com/noticias/osasuna-elimino-al-barca-en-1987 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=Leslie Mark Hughes|url=http://www.enfa.co.uk/|work=The English National Football Archive|url-access=subscription}}

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, Copa del Rey, DFB-Pokal}}

!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Football League Cup}}

!colspan="2"|Europe

!colspan="2"|Other{{ref label|Other|A

}

!colspan="2"|Total

|-

!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

|-

|rowspan="4"|Manchester United

|1983–84

|First Division

|11||4||0||0||2||1||4{{efn|name=CWC|Appearances in European Cup Winners' Cup}}||0||0||0||17||5

|-

|1984–85

|First Division

|38||16||7||3||2||3||8{{efn|name=UC|Appearances in UEFA Cup}}||2||colspan="2"|—||55||24

|-

|1985–86

|First Division

|40||17||3||1||2||0||colspan="2"|—||4||0||49||18

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!89!!37!!10!!4!!6!!4!!12!!2!!4!!0!!121!!47

|-

|Barcelona

|1986–87

|La Liga

|28||4||2||0||colspan="2"|—||7{{efn|name=UC}}||1||colspan="2"|—||37||5

|-

|Bayern Munich (loan)

|1987–88

|Bundesliga

|18||6||3||1||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=EC|Appearances in European Cup}}||0||0||0||23||7

|-

|rowspan="8"|Manchester United

|1988–89

|First Division

|38||14||7||2||3||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|Appearances in Football League Centenary Trophy}}||0||51||16

|-

|1989–90

|First Division

|37||13||8||2||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||48||15

|-

|1990–91

|First Division

|31||10||3||2||9||6||8{{efn|name=CWC}}||3||1{{efn|name=FACS|Appearance in FA Charity Shield}}||0||52||21

|-

|1991–92

|First Division

|39||11||3||1||6||0||4{{efn|name=CWC}}||2||1{{efn|Appearance in European Super Cup}}||0||53||14

|-

|1992–93

|Premier League

|41||15||2||0||3||1||2{{efn|name=UC}}||0||colspan="2"|—||48||16

|-

|1993–94

|Premier League

|36||12||7||4||8||5||2{{efn|name=EC}}||0||1{{efn|name=FACS}}||1||54||22

|-

|1994–95

|Premier League

|34||8||6||2||0||0||5{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||2||1{{efn|name=FACS}}||0||46||12

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!256!!83!!36!!13!!32!!12!!21!!7!!7!!1!!352!!116

|-

|rowspan="4"|Chelsea

|1995–96

|Premier League

|31||8||6||4||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||39||12

|-

|1996–97

|Premier League

|35||8||7||5||2||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||44||14

|-

|1997–98

|Premier League

|29||9||1||0||6||2||3{{efn|name=CWC}}||1||1{{efn|name=FACS}}||1||40||13

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!95!!25!!14!!9!!10!!3!!3!!1!!1!!1!!123!!39

|-

|rowspan="3"|Southampton

|1998–99

|Premier League

|32||1||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||36||1

|-

|1999–2000

|Premier League

|20||1||2||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||25||1

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!52!!2!!4!!0!!5!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!61!!2

|-

|rowspan="3"|Everton

|1999–2000

|Premier League

|9||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||9||1

|-

|2000–01

|Premier League

|9||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||10||0

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!18!!1!!0!!0!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!19!!1

|-

|rowspan="3"|Blackburn Rovers

|2000–01

|First Division

|29||5||5||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||5

|-

|2001–02

|Premier League

|21||1||3||0||6||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||30||2

|-

!colspan="2"|Total

!50!!6!!8!!0!!6!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!64!!7

|-

!colspan="3"|Career total

!606!!164!!77!!27!!60!!20!!45!!11!!12!!2!!799!!224

|}

{{notelist}}

=International=

class=wikitable style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{NFT player|14002|name=Mark Hughes|accessdate=21 November 2012}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/wal-recintlp.html |title=Wales – Record International Players |first=Luis Fernando Passo |last=Alpuin |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=21 November 2012 }}

National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan="16"|Wales

|1984

53
198563
198610
198751
198851
198950
199041
199170
199281
199362
199430
199530
199654
199730
199830
199930
colspan="2"|Total7216

:Wales score listed first, score column indicates score after each Hughes goal.{{cite web |url=http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=8818 |title=Mark Hughes |publisher=EU-Football.info |access-date=2 June 2013}}

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Mark Hughes

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
align=center| 12 May 1984Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales{{fb|ENG}}align=center| 1–0align=center| 1–01983–84 British Home Championship
align=center| 222 May 1984Vetch Field, Swansea, Wales{{fb|NIR}}align=center| 1–0align=center| 1–11983–84 British Home Championship
align=center| 314 November 1984Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales{{fb|ISL}}align=center| 2–1align=center| 2–11986 FIFA World Cup qualification
align=center| 430 April 1985Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales{{fb|ESP}}align=center| 2–0align=center| 3–01986 FIFA World Cup qualification
align=center| 55 June 1985Brann Stadion, Bergen, Norway{{fb|NOR}}align=center| 2–4align=center| 2–4Friendly
align=center| 610 September 1985Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales{{fb|SCO}}align=center| 1–0align=center| 1–11986 FIFA World Cup qualification
align=center| 79 September 1987Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales{{fb|DEN}}align=center| 1–0align=center| 1–0UEFA Euro 1988 qualification
align=center| 81 June 1988Ta' Qali National Stadium, Valletta, Malta{{fb|MLT}}align=center| 2–2align=center| 3–2Friendly
align=center| 917 October 1990Ninian Park, Cardiff, Wales{{fb|BEL}}align=center| 3–1align=center| 3–1UEFA Euro 1992 qualification
align=center| 1014 October 1992Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus{{fb|CYP}}align=center| 1–0align=center| 1–01994 FIFA World Cup qualification
align=center| 1117 February 1993Tolka Park, Dublin, Republic of Ireland{{fb|IRL}}align=center| 1–0align=center| 1–2Friendly
align=center| 1228 April 1993Bazaly, Ostrava, Czech Republic{{fb|CSK|name=RCS}}align=center| 1–0align=center| 1–11994 FIFA World Cup qualification
align=center| 13rowspan=2 | 2 June 1996rowspan=2 | Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle, San Marinorowspan=2 | {{fb|SMR}}align=center| 2–0align=center rowspan=2 | 5–0rowspan=2 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
align=center| 14align=center| 3–0
align=center| 15rowspan=2 | 31 August 1996rowspan=2 | Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, Walesrowspan=2 | {{fb|SMR}}align=center| 2–0align=center rowspan=2 | 6–0rowspan=2 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
align=center| 16align=center| 5–0

Managerial statistics

{{updated|match played 18 April 2025}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Managerial record and tenure by team

rowspan=2|Team

!rowspan=2|From

!rowspan=2|To

!colspan=5|Record

!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

{{abbr|P|Matches played}}{{abbr|W|Matches won}}{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
align=left|Wales

|align=left|3 August 1999

|align=left|13 October 2004

{{WDL|41|12|15|14|decimals=2}}

|{{cite news |title=Henry, Sparky and Baggies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/aug/03/thefiver.sport |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=3 August 1999 |access-date=22 January 2016}}{{cite news |title=Hughes deserved a better farewell |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3733592.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=13 October 2004 |access-date=22 January 2016}}

align=left|Blackburn Rovers

|align=left|15 September 2004

|align=left|4 June 2008

{{WDL|188|82|47|59|decimals=2}}

|{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=1916 |title=Managers: Mark Hughes|website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=6 February 2025}}

align=left|Manchester City

|align=left|4 June 2008

|align=left|19 December 2009

{{WDL|77|36|16|25|decimals=2}}

|

align=left|Fulham

|align=left|29 July 2010

|align=left|2 June 2011

{{WDL|43|14|16|13|decimals=2}}

|

align=left|Queens Park Rangers

|align=left|10 January 2012

|align=left|23 November 2012

{{WDL|34|8|6|20|decimals=2}}

|

align=left|Stoke City

|align=left|30 May 2013

|align=left|6 January 2018

{{WDL|200|71|48|81|decimals=2}}

|

align=left|Southampton

|align=left|14 March 2018

|align=left|3 December 2018

{{WDL|27|5|10|12|decimals=2}}

|

align=left|Bradford City

|align=left|24 February 2022

|align=left|4 October 2023

{{WDL|82|31|26|25|decimals=2}}

|

align=left|Carlisle United

|align=left|6 February 2025

|align=left|Present

{{WDL|15|5|4|6|decimals=2}}

colspan=3|Total

{{WDLtot|707|264|188|255|decimals=2}}

!

Honours

=Player=

Manchester United{{cite web|url=https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/mark-hughes|title=Mark Hughes|publisher=Manchester United|access-date=14 July 2019}}

Chelsea{{cite web|url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/about-chelsea/history/former-players/mark-hughes|title=Mark Hughes|publisher=Chelsea FC|date=22 January 2018|access-date=14 July 2019}}

Blackburn Rovers

  • Football League Cup: 2001–02{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/worthington_cup/1834988.stm |title=Cole strike stuns Spurs |website=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2002 |access-date=27 March 2024}}
  • Football League First Division runner-up: 2000–01

Individual

  • PFA Young Player of the Year: 1984–85{{cite web|title=PFA Young Player of the Year Past Winners|url=https://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/youngwinners|publisher=Professional Footballers' Association (PFA)|access-date=13 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709191655/http://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/youngwinners|archive-date=9 July 2015|url-status=dead}}
  • PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1988–89, 1990–91{{cite web|title=PFA Player of the Year Past Winners|url=https://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/winners|publisher=Professional Footballers' Association (PFA)|access-date=13 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710002827/http://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/pfaawards/winners|archive-date=10 July 2015|url-status=dead}}
  • PFA First Division Team of the Year: 1985–86,{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=146}} 1988–89,{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=147}} 1990–91,{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=148}} 1991–92{{cite book |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |page=149}}
  • EFL Cup top scorer: 1990–91{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/goalgetter/eng-league-cup-1990-1991/|title=English League Cup Statistics |date=24 September 2024 |publisher=WorldFootball.net|access-date=12 April 2025}}
  • Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 1990–91{{cite web |title=Legends: Mark Hughes |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Legends/Mark-Hughes.aspx?pageNo=2 |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |access-date=13 September 2015}}
  • Welsh Footballer of the Year: 1993, 1994{{cite web|url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news-archive-1/gareth-retains-faw-award/|title=GARETH RETAINS FAW AWARD|publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|date=5 October 2011|access-date=12 January 2022}}
  • Chelsea Player of the Year: 1996–97{{cite web |title=Thiago Silva is your Chelsea Player of the Season |url=https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/thiago-silva-is-your-chelsea-player-of-the-season |website=Chelsea FC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528154230/https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/thiago-silva-is-your-chelsea-player-of-the-season |archive-date=28 May 2023}}
  • Inducted into English Football Hall of Fame{{cite web|title=About the Hall of Fame|url=http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/explore-the-museum/hall-of-fame/about-the-hall-of-fame|website=National Football Museum|access-date=28 April 2016|archive-date=9 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109105741/http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/explore-the-museum/hall-of-fame/about-the-hall-of-fame|url-status=dead}}
  • BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year: 2002{{cite web|title=Congratulate Mark Hughes|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/sports_talk/2599307.stm|website=BBC Sport|date=31 December 2002|access-date=13 September 2016}}

=Manager=

Individual

References

{{Reflist}}