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Aston Villa appoint Paul Lambert from Norwich City as new boss

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Paul Lambert

Aston Villa have confirmed that Norwich boss Paul Lambert is their new manager.

The 42-year-old succeeds his fellow Scot Alex McLeish, who was sacked the day after the final game of the season.

Lambert, who becomes Villa's fourth boss in less than two years, guided the Canaries to back-to-back promotions from League One before finishing 12th in last season's Premier League.

A Villa statement said:external-link "The board are delighted to confirm that Paul Lambert has been appointed manager."

The former Livingston, Wycombe and Colchester boss, who recently described speculation he could leave Carrow Road as "absolute nonsense", offered his resignation to Norwich on Friday but saw that rejected.

In a statement released on Saturday,external-link Norwich said they were in discussions with Villa about compensation for Lambert and denied reports that a figure had been agreed.

"We will continue to discuss this matter privately with Aston Villa," it read.

"The next Norwich City manager will have a great squad of players, a robust and competitive budget and excellent facilities to work with - as well as the superb backing home and away of our fantastic supporters."

Chief executive David McNally had previously told the BBC that he was ready for a fight to keep Lambert at the club.

Norwich striker Grant Holt, whose future at Carrow Road is up in the air, took to Twitter upon Lambert's departure.external-link He wrote: "Good luck to the gaffer [he] will be sadly missed at Norwich. Enjoyed every minute of his 3 years."

Lambert, who enjoyed spells at Celtic and Borussia Dortmund in his playing days, moved to Carrow Road in August 2009 when the Canaries were in the third tier.

He will now have the task of reviving Villa's fortunes after a disappointing campaign for the West Midlands club which saw them finish only two points above the relegation zone.

Villa goalkeeper Shay Given, who is preparing for Euro 2012 with the Republic of Ireland, has welcomed the appointment.

He said on Twitter: external-link"Great appointment today for the club with Paul Lambert coming in as our new manager. I wish him well at ‪#avfc‬"

Lambert is expected to be given money to spend after McLeish spent last season reducing what he described as an "astronomical" wage bill.

It is expected that he will be able to reinvest any money he generates from the sale of current Villa players.

McLeish departed Villa on 14 May after only 11 months in charge.

Owner Randy Lerner also held talks with former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but he opted to stay at Molde in Norway for family reasons.

Villa also spoke with advisors of Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, somebody who had rejected the chance to replace Gerard Houllier 12 months ago.

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334 comments

  • Comment posted by U14972306, at 15:31 2 Jun 2012

    151. Scorpion
    24 MINUTES AGO
    I do not understand this move at all. Whereas Brendan Rodgers moved to one of the elite club sides in the world,
    +++
    What? Did Rodgers turn down Liverpool at the last moment and take the vacant job at Barcelona?

  • Comment posted by peter, at 16:29 2 Jun 2012

    Lambert? A moderate manager joining a club that are somewhat desperate. What did he do at Norwich? Kept them up thats all.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I think you'll find he took a small club that was bottom of division 3 and took them to the Premier League in 2 seasons.

  • Comment posted by Mark Lawton, at 14:17 2 Jun 2012

    Last game of the season. Liverpool beaten by Swansea. Solution? Hire their manager. Last game of the season, Villa beaten by Norwich. Hire their manager! Must check the other results.

  • Comment posted by U15292027, at 15:17 2 Jun 2012

    This is the most optimistic position Villa have been in since the appointment of M Oneill an excitment which has been missing too long. Wecolme Paul we are all behind you, despite the knockers Villa are and will always be a great club built on great tradition.

  • Comment posted by U14742068, at 11:33 3 Jun 2012

    As an Everton fan it really annoys me when people say the likes of Villa and Everton are not big clubs, a big club is a club who has pedigree and history. In terms of stature and history, Everton and Villa are miles ahead of the likes of City, Chelsea and Spurs. Just because these clubs currently have money does not make them bigger clubs, far from it.

  • Comment posted by ibwa, at 17:33 2 Jun 2012

    In the eyes of Lambert Villa are the bigger club.

  • Comment posted by lfd44, at 16:27 2 Jun 2012

    A lack of loyalty? Don't make me laugh. Lambert's undoubtedly destined for a VERY big team in the future, and he had certainly achieved all that he could at Norwich - why halt such a promising manager's development?

  • Comment posted by Ewanmax, at 12:56 2 Jun 2012

    It's always disappointing when a talented manager moves to a bigger club. To accuse Lambert of a lack of loyalty is merely hurt feelings. He's a great feller, when he he joined Dortmund after arranging his own trial, he returned to Motherwell who were about to go bust and paid for their Christmas party.

  • Comment posted by lardofale, at 23:21 2 Jun 2012

    Good luck Paul. The last three years have been amongst the most enjoyable of my 35 years watching Norwich City. Taking us from 23rd in Divison 3 to mid table Premier league (including the 9-2 demolition over two matches of Ips**ch) in 3 years has been fantastic to watch. Norwich are in a fantastic position on and off the pitch, the next appointment will be a huge, a tough act to follow.

  • Comment posted by Glen Haig, at 16:31 2 Jun 2012

    @176
    "Lambert? A moderate manager joining a club that are somewhat desperate. What did he do at Norwich? Kept them up thats all."

    Erm... And the two successive promotions.

  • Comment posted by U6784278, at 13:49 2 Jun 2012

    A Football Disciplinary Commission in June 2010 ruled that Norwich City must pay Colchester United £425,000 in compensation following their recruitment of manager Paul Lambert and his backroom team in August 2009.

    Norwich City were also fined £200,000 for breaching regulation 20 which forbids clubs from inducing other club's employees to break their contract of employment.

  • Comment posted by LFCfan128, at 12:54 2 Jun 2012

    Oh dear. Delia wont be pleased, lets be avin u !!

  • Comment posted by MasterWood117, at 16:31 2 Jun 2012

    Norwich should accept that Paul Lambert has abandoned them in similar fashion to his departure from Colchester Utd. A pity for the club and its fans, yes, but to protest at the manner in which this has come about would display hypocrisy and a short memory. What goes around comes around, unfortunately.

  • Comment posted by peter, at 16:19 2 Jun 2012

    You can't blame Lambert for moving on. He's done great work at Norwich and probably taken them as far as they can go. There is no loyalty in football, and staying at Norwich would show a lack of ambition

    Norwich is small, regional club punching well above its weight. Villa is a sleeping giant with great potential and a massive fan base.

  • Comment posted by LeeUTV, at 15:19 2 Jun 2012

    Makes me laugh people saying Lambert has made a sideways career move by going to Villa and calling us an 'has been' club, get real, yes last season was a disaster for us but I'm pretty sure most Norwich fans would now bite your hand off finishing 16th next season which is a little indicator at the differences between the two clubs.

    Good luck Lambert! UTV

  • Comment posted by MediaMonster, at 14:10 2 Jun 2012

    Without a firm offer I do not think any manager would be stupid enough to declare interest in another club...that would be suicide with the hardcore supporters! The media and the circus that ensues a sacking means every man and his dog are linked....to which, anyone with an ounce of sense would quickly rebuff...until a firm offer lands.
    How must Wigan fans feel knowing Martinez WANTED to leave!

  • Comment posted by Ian, at 17:47 3 Jun 2012

    Villa have won every major domestic trophy more times than they have ever been relegated. Recent average attendances between 6th & 10th in the PL. A history that ranks them 4th in England. Always around number 20 in the Deloitte and Forbes world finacial lists. Founder members of the league (1 of 3 in the PL). Never left the PL (1 of 7). Quite a big club then. And not one that cheats financially.

  • Comment posted by U14966550, at 15:06 3 Jun 2012

    Villa ARE a big club, and I say that as someone with absolutely no torch for them. Former European champions with a great overall domestic record, albeit no silverware since 1996. Don't forget, it was only two years ago they were in a cup final and semi-final and challenging for the top four. Norwich and Swansea both overachieved last season, hopefully they'll both succeed under new management.

  • Comment posted by Unbelievable Tekkers, at 12:04 3 Jun 2012

    @258 If we were a Championship side surely we would be in the Championship next season?

    @259 I don't think we overachieved under MON... Fact is that Villa team had a lot more talent than today's... Talent which is mostly now playing higher up in the PL.... MON had no idea how to build a squad...which is why that form was never going to be sustainable... Certain players saw this and jumped ship

  • Comment posted by U15045409, at 12:03 3 Jun 2012

    It never ceases to amaze me that the jealous fans of other clubs continue to slag Villa off. Much bigger club than man city or Chelsea but not recognised as being so simply because of money and the modern generation of glory hunters.
    Think Villa will surprise people next season. We still have the likes of Bent, nzogbia, Ireland, Makoun who were not utilised under mcleish due to negative tactics.

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