2 days ago
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Christian Fuchs has been tasked with saving Newport County from League Two relegation in his first managerial job in football.
The 39-year-old, who was part of Leicester's famous Premier League winning team in 2015/16, had most recently been working as Dean Smith's assistant at MLS side Charlotte FC.
Fuchs has long spoken of his desire to take the step into management and, after two years coaching in North Carolina, has penned a 'long-term contract' at Rodney Parade.
Though he once achieved the greatest feat in English football with the Foxes - clinching the title at odds of 5000/1 - Fuchs will now be given the unenviable challenge of making sure his new side do not drop into the National League.
'We see Christian as the sort of man to lead our club forward. I believe he matches our ambition and goals for Newport County FC,' club chairman Huw Jenkins said.
'I do feel we can now look forward with a great deal of optimism. We'll look to improve our current situation in League Two and take things from there.
Christian Fuchs has been tasked with saving Newport County from League Two relegation
Fuchs won the Premier League with Leicester as a player and is now entering into management
'Christian is ambitious and wants, one day, to manage in the Premier League, we believe he shares our strong belief in what Newport County can eventually become.'
The former Austrian international takes over from David Hughes, who was only appointed in the summer before being sacked by The Exiles after winning just three times in 16 matches.
Hughes had struggled to get things off the ground for the South Wales side and speculation that Fuchs could replace him was rife after he was spotted in the stands during their clash against Accrington Stanley last month.
Asked about Fuchs' presence at the game, Hughes said: 'I knew that as well. A good friend of mine told me that [he was coming].
'That's the nature of the game isn't it? If you are not successful and you are not winning then questions are asked.
'I have never deviated in my belief in the players. Maybe one or two have deviated in their belief in me.'
Fuchs will take over from David Hughes who was only sacked after just 16 games in charge
Despite Hughes' defiant tone, County went on to lose five of the next six games and he was fired last week.
Fuchs' first game in charge will be County's trip to Oldham Athletic, who currently sit 15th in League Two.
As a player, the left-back won 78 caps for Austria and played more than 150 times for Leicester. He only had more appearances for the now-defunct SV Mattersburg, where he spent five years .
Fuchs finished his playing career at Charlotte FC and later set up Fox Soccer Academy, which has bases in London, Leicester, Manchester and Derbyshire. It is run by his wife.
