David Weir is appointed new Sheffield United manager on three-year deal

• Former Scotland defender offered his first managerial role
• Weir is Sheffield United's seventh manager in seven years

Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Monday 10 June 2013 17.05 BST

Sheffield United manager David Weir
David Weir has been appointed Sheffield United manager on a three-year deal. Photograph: David Moir/Reuters

Sheffield United have appointed the former Scotland international David Weir as their new manager. The former Rangers and Everton defender, 43, who had been working as a coach at Goodison Park after retiring in 2012, has signed a three-year deal to take on his first managerial role.

Weir replaces Danny Wilson, sacked in April with five games of the season remaining, and becomes the Blades' seventh permanent manager in the last seven years. "My first thoughts about the job are of excitement," he said. "I understand how privileged I am to be named manager of a fantastic football club like Sheffield United.

"I realise what a great opportunity is in front of me now and my message to the supporters is that I will work hard and give everything to be successful at Bramall Lane. I honestly can't wait to get started and get a real feel for the club, then obviously I am eager to get organised for when the players return for pre-season training later this month."

The Blades coach Chris Morgan had been placed in temporary charge following Wilson's sacking and the former United defender had been hoping to land the job.

The A-League's Central Coast Mariners manager Graham Arnold had also been interviewed for the post along with the former Blades midfielder and coach Stuart McCall, who opted to remain as Motherwell manager.

Another former player at Bramall Lane, the Port Vale coach Robert Page, the former Blackburn, Blackpool and Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton and the former Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate were also reported to have been on the club's shortlist.

The chief executive Julian Winter said: "We are thrilled to appoint David and the three-year contract emphasises the fact that he will assist in a change in club culture. I have stated before that the club needs to act differently and David is young, has a great pedigree and will bring a new vision and leadership to the club.

"The process of appointing a new manager has taken slightly longer than we envisaged but by taking our time we believe we have the attracted the right man to take Sheffield United forward."

Weir, who began his career at Falkirk before a three-year spell at Hearts, moved south of the border to join Everton in 1999 and went on to make more than 230 appearances for the Merseysiders.

He returned to Scotland in 2007 with Rangers, where he made over 140 appearances in five years before announcing he wanted to extend his playing career back in England.

Weir trained briefly with the Blades but instead returned to Everton in early 2012 to join the club's coaching staff.

He is understood to have been interviewed for the post of manager at Goodison Park following David Moyes' departure to Manchester United.

Weir won 69 caps for Scotland and became the oldest ever international player for his country when he appeared against Lithuania in September 2010, aged 40 years and 116 days.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer