Mark Hughes, the former coach of Stoke City, just signed with non-league team Clitheroe after leaving the Potters.
The 37-year-old Hughes signs a non-contract with the Northern Premier League team, according to Clitheroe’s official X account. After splitting from the team together with manager Steven Schumacher, he resigned as Stoke City’s coach last week and decided to play in the English football league’s seventh division.
Hughes and Schumacher, who had previously collaborated at Plymouth Argyle, joined Stoke last December. Together, they managed to maintain the Potters in the Championship the previous season. But even after rebuilding the squad over the summer, the two were fired after just five games of the current season. Narcis Pelach, a former coach of Norwich City and Huddersfield Town, has assumed leadership at the Bet365 Stadium following their departure.
Now, Clitheroe, who compete in the Northern Premier League, has started the season uneventfully, winning two games, drawing two, and losing two. They are now eight points behind leaders Bootle in 13th place in the rankings as a result.
Clitheroe’s acquisition of Hughes gives him the opportunity to play while considering his coaching career’s next move. Still, Hughes is anticipated to work with Schumacher again if the manager lands his next job because he is a very reliable component of his coaching staff.
Before making his senior debut, Hughes rose through the Everton junior divisions to start his professional career. In order to gain experience, he spent his early career on loan with Northampton Town and Stockport County. After that, Hughes played for teams like Bury, Morecambe, and Accrington Stanley, where he was a member of the team that took home the 2018 League Two championship. Following a brief stay with Bristol Rovers, he made the switch to coaching, working under Steven Schumacher at Plymouth Argyle before moving on to Stoke City in 2023.
Stoke City finds it interesting that Hughes decided to play again, especially considering his impressive coaching background. Following a strong season in which they helped steer Stoke into safety, Hughes and Schumacher appeared ready to carry on with their project at the team. Although its early termination this season was unexpected, it illustrates the brutality of contemporary football administration. Hughes made a commendable decision to drop to the seventh tier in order to maintain his physical and mental sharpness. It keeps his coaching possibilities open and allows him to continue being involved in the game.
The unpredictable nature of a football career is highlighted by Hughes’ relocation to Clitheroe. He began his coaching career at Everton and has since gained a great deal of experience, so this chapter as a non-league player keeps him near to his favorite sport. Stoke City supporters will probably be watching Hughes and Schumacher’s next moves even though the team has moved on under Narcis Pelach. Their relationship and coaching background might come in handy for another team in the near future.
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