Steve Bruce succeeds Di Matteo as new Aston Villa manager

Aston Villa have formally announced the appointment of former Hull City and Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce as their new manager.

The 55-year-old, who returns to the management after successfully guiding Hull City back to the Premier League, will succeed Roberto Di Matteo who was axed by second-tier club Villa after the side's disastrous start to the season that left them occupy lowly 19th position in the Football League Championship.

Jubilant with the opportunity of managing Villa, Bruce said he is looking forward to the challenge of trying to bring the club back on track.

"It's a wonderful opportunity. It is one of the big clubs of this country. To be given the opportunity to manage it is terrific," said former Manchester United defender, who became the fourth permanent manager in the last 12 months at Villa Park.

"I relish the challenge of trying to take the club where it wants to go and needs to be - and try to turn around the misfortune we seem to have had over the past few years," Sport24 quoted him as saying.

Bruce, who served as Birmingham manager from 2001 to 2007, will take over the charge from this week's derby clash against local rivals Wolves where Villa will look to snap their nine-match winless streak.

Bruce has always been the front runner for Villa, who also interviewed assistant manager Steve Clarke for the role.