London, Oct 13: English football club Aston Villa has appointed former Hull City and Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce as their new manager.

Bruce, who also managed Crystal Palace, replaced sacked Italian Roberto di Matteo at Villa Park following the appointment on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The 55-year-old former Manchester United captain left Hull in July and will become the sixth manager of Aston Villa in the last 12 months.

Villa, which were relegated from the Premier League last season, are standing at 19th in the Championship table.

He said: "It is one of the big clubs of this country. To be given the opportunity to manage it is terrific.

"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."

IANS