Former Bristol Rovers manager Graham Coughlan has landed a coaching role at Premier League Sheffield United.
The Irishman, who notoriously quit his post at Rovers to take charge of League Two Mansfield Town in December 2019, had been out of work since losing his job at Field Mill in October following a poor start to the season.
But the former Southend United and Plymouth Argyle centre-half, who lives in Sheffield, has landed on his feet with a job at Bramall Lane.
Coughlan has been added to the Blades' under-23s coaching staff, alongside ex-Barnet boss Darren Currie, following Paul Heckingbottom's promotion to the first team.
The former Barnsley, Leeds United and Hibernian manager is in interim charge following the sacking of Chris Wilder, leaving the coaching resources bare and Coughlan and Currie have been brought in to work with the Blades' young talents until the end of the season.
Heckingbottom, coincidentally, was under consideration to replace Coughlan at the Mem, but it was Ben Garner who got the job.
Coughlan replaced Darrell Clarke in charge at the Mem in 2018 and steered the Gas to survival before leading the club to fourth in League One before sensationally quitting after a memorable 2-1 at Ipswich Town, moving to Mansfield to be closer to his family. Rovers' fortunes have plummeted since, with the Pirates mired in a relegation battle.
The Dubliner's career has not gone to plan since, either, struggling with Mansfield despite being well backed in the summer, but he will hope a fresh chance at a calibre of club like Sheffield United will reinvigorate his coaching journey.
"United's U23s will have two new faces in the dugout on Monday," a Sheffield United spokesman said.
"Currie, nephew of Blades legend Tony, enjoyed a long-playing career which took in spells at the likes of Shrewsbury, Barnet, Wycombe and Ipswich. He has since coached and managed Dagenham and Redbridge and Barnet.
"Following Paul Heckingbottom's elevation to the first team, the Blades have added Darren Currie and Graham Coughlan to the U23 coaching ranks until the end of the season.
"Coughlan also enjoyed a notable playing career with the likes of Plymouth, Rotherham and Shrewsbury to name a few, and following the end of his playing days, managed Bristol Rovers and Mansfield Town."
