The former Stoke City manager signed 33 players permanently in four and a half years but few lived up to their billing and he can have few complaints
With time running out against Coventry City, Stoke City had two forwards up front, two in central midfield and two playing at wing-back. From one angle this was Mark Hughes chucking the sink at it; doing everything he could to prevent a humiliating defeat in the FA Cup third round. Another viewpoint, however, was that it was an indictment of the bad planning and organisation that has led to the Welshman losing his job after four and a half years at the club.
Hughes was hired in May 2013 as a replacement for Tony Pulis. He was charged with taking Stoke to the next level, building on their status as a solid Premier League side and enabling a style of play that could help them mix it with the big boys. It started well enough, with three ninth-placed finishes in his first three seasons.
Related: Mark Hughes sacked by Stoke City after FA Cup humiliation by Coventry
Related: Coventry’s Jack Grimmer lets fly to finish off Mark Hughes’s Stoke reign
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