Fooball: Aston Villa appoint McLeish as manager

McLeish is a former central defender who served Aberdeen and Scotland for many years.

LONDON: Aston Villa appointed Alex McLeish as their new manager, less than a week after the Scot quit archrivals Birmingham City. The move to interview McLeish, who was unable to prevent Birmingham from being relegated from the Premier League last season, resulted in protests at Villa Park by a number of die-hard fans earlier this week. McLeish, a former central defender who served Aberdeen and Scotland for many years, succeeds Gerard Houllier who resigned on June 1 through ill health.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.