Russell Slade spent most of his playing career at reserve team level and entered coaching in 1993 at the age of 33 with Notts County where he was briefly caretaker manager before leaving for spells in charge of non-league sides Armitage and Leicester United.

He joined the coaching staff of Sheffield United in 1997 and was caretaker manager on two occasions there before Neil Warnock was appointed. His first permanent managerial post was at Conference club Scarborough where he was a phenomenal success. When he arrived in November 2001 the club were adrift at the bottom of the league but a remarkable run at the end of the season meant that they eventually finished twelfth. By Christmas the following season the team were in fourth place but the club went into administration in January 2003. He also led Scarborough on a remarkable cup run in 2003/04 season which finished with an honourable 0-1 home defeat by Chelsea in the third round.

He then had two years as manager of League Two Grimsby Town where he secured a play-off place in 2006. His team beat local rivals Lincoln City in the semi-final but lost to Cheltenham in the final at Wembley.

League One club Yeovil Town then came calling and again he found himself at Wembley for the play-off final after defeating Forest in the semi-final. This time Blackpool proved to be his nemesis in a 0-2 defeat. He left Yeovil in February 2009 citing his disappointment at their lack of ambition but a few weeks later he was in charge of Brighton where in two months he succeeded in ensuring they avoided relegation from League One.

He rose to prominence during his four year stay at Leyton Orient. The club started the 2013/14 season in sensational fashion with Lisbie and Mooney shooting them to eight consecutive wins. They remained unbeaten for a further four games which saw them top of the league with a goal difference of 31-8. Famously, Slade achieved this without paying out any transfer fees. However, they eventually faded to third place behind Wolves and Brentford, and Slade had to settle once again for the play-offs. At Wembley they were 2-0 up against Rotherham but drew 2-2 and lost 3-4 on penalties.

He has spent the last two years at Cardiff where he replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in October 2014. He was tasked with reducing the club's wage bill after their relegation from The Premier League and he saw seven first team players leave the club during his first three months. Cardiff finished 11th and 8th in The Championship under Slade's management. In May this year he was removed from his post of manager and became head of football but he resigned this role on June 3rd.

He arrives at The Valley with over twenty years of coaching / management experience in British football. He has never achieved promotion with any of his clubs but he has twice been named as League One Manager of the Year. He has a reputation as an effective man manager and a shrewd operator in the transfer market with a win ratio of 38% (42.5% at Leyton Orient)

Here are some of his comments from his introductory press conference on Tuesday:

"I feel like I've come to a Championship club"

"We will have a healthy, top six budget next season"

"There is a desire to reconnect with the fans. Appointing me shows an intent"

"I'll have huge influence over the comings and goings. Control over transfers is not in my contract. Selecting the team is in my contract"

"Nobody will be leaving on the cheap"

"I spoke to a Premiership manager and two Championship managers yesterday about players"

"I will talk to the fans like I talk to my players. I like openness and honesty"

"Tony Watt did well at Cardiff. He's a Charlton player"

"It is important to manage upwards and downwards"

"I want a group of players who want to be here. Players who will roll their sleeves up a bit more when the going gets tough"

"We need to maximise everything on and off the field like I did at Orient"

"It was my decision to leave Cardiff"