A background of new manager Alan Stubbs...
Born in Kirkby, Alan Stubbs started his playing career with Bolton Wanderers in 1990.
In his first full season at Burnden Park he helped the Trotters to a fourth placed finish in the old Third Division, missing out on automatic promotion on goal difference. After defeat in the Play-off final, Bolton would give Stubbs a regular berth during the 1991/92 campaign, but it was in the following season that Wanderers would make their mark.
Stubbs featured as Bolton won promotion to the second tier of English football after finishing second behind Stoke City. Under manager Bruce Rioch, Bolton and Stubbs were then to have considerable success in the now named First Division following the creation of the Premier League.
During the 1994/95 season Stubbs, who by now had been named captain, helped the Trotters to the League Cup final before being defeated 2-1 by Liverpool. Stubbs would fair better later on in the season when Bolton came back in dramatic style to beat Reading in the Play-off final to earn promotion to the Premier League.
After one season in the top flight with Bolton, which ultimately ended in relegation, Stubbs left to join Scottish giants Celtic for a fee of £3.5 million. After a steady first season, Stubbs would go on to win the Scottish League Cup in 1997 and finally the Scottish League Championship in the same season.
Another Scottish League Cup triumph followed in 2000 and the League again in 2001, before Stubbs won his biggest battle of his career after overcoming serious illness.
In 2001 he moved back to England to join Premier League Everton and quickly became a regular and consistent performer in central defence. Under David Moyes, Everton finished in an impressive seventh position, with Stubbs making 38 appearances in all competitions. In the 2004/5 season it got better for the Toffees as Stubbs captained them to a fourth place finish, which resulted in qualification for the Champions League qualifiers.
In 2005 he switched to Sunderland but it was a brief stay and after only one season at the Stadium of Light he was back with Everton on a permanent basis. After his impressive form earned him an extended deal at Goodison Park, he left for a second time in February 2008 to join Derby County, but couldn’t prevent the Rams from being relegated.
He stayed at Pride Park and started the following campaign in the Championship, but a persistent knee injury forced him to end his playing career.
It wasn’t long before Stubbs returned to Goodison Park, this time in a coaching capacity, working under David Moyes and then Roberto Martinez.
In 2014 he made the step up to first team management after accepting the job at Hibernian.
In his first season he guided Hibs to second position in the Scottish Championship before missing out to Rangers in the promotion play-offs. Last season it was Play-off heartbreak again after defeat to Falkirk, but Stubbs guided Hibs to their greatest achievement in the modern era.
After a run to the Scottish League Cup final where they were denied by Ross County, Hibernian would go one better in Scottish Cup. They beat the likes Hearts, Inverness and Dundee United before coming from behind to defeat Rangers 3-2 in the final at Hampden Park.
He then moved to AESSEAL New York Stadium signing a three-year contract alongside assistant John Doolan.