/world sport
(CNN) -- Former England captain Paul Ince has been appointed as the new Blackburn manager in succession to Mark Hughes.
Ince had plenty of reasons to smile during last season with Milton Keynes Dons.
Ince has been strongly linked with the vacant post at Ewood Park since the departure of Hughes to fellow Premier League side Manchester City.
The 40-year-old, who will become the first black Briton to take charge of a top-flight club in England, has enjoyed considerable success in the lower leagues.
He saved Macclesfield from relegation from the Football League in 2006-7 and having taken over at Milton Keynes Dons led them to the third-flight title and a cup competition for lower division clubs.
Ince has been linked with a number of jobs, most recently at Wigan and Derby, but has waited to sign a three-year deal at Blackburn, who have consistently finished in the top half of the Premier League under Hughes.
Midfielder Ince enjoyed an illustrious playing career, most notably at Manchester United, and he is yet another disciple of Alex Ferguson to make his mark in management, Hughes being another.
Ince won 53 caps for England and was the black player to captain the international side.
Sunday's announcement from Blackburn came 24 hours after the English Premier League gave the appointment the greenlight, after it had earlier emerged that Ince didn't have the requisite coaching qualifications.
The League have stipulated that Ince must get his UEFA Pro Coaching Licence within two years.
He will be officially unveiled on Tuesday.
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