Top job... Conor Hourihane during his time at Aston Villa(Image: Paul Harding/Getty Images)
Barnsley have appointed Aston Villa promotion winner Conor Hourihane as head coach on a permanent basis.
Hourihane succeeds Darrell Clarke, who was dismissed last month. He has agreed a two-year deal with the option of a third season.
The 34-year-old, who rejoined Barnsley last summer as a player-coach and was Clarke's assistant, has taken charge of six matches so far on a temporary basis, overseeing one win, two draws and three defeats.
"It's pretty emotional, to be honest," said Hourihane. "I'm really honoured. I had success as captain, and now I want success as a head coach – it's as simple as that.
"I want to win football matches more than anyone. Step by step, the ultimate goal is to have success."
While player and club suffered frustration in the first couple of years in the Championship, promotion was secured at the third attempt in 2019 - and Hourihane scored against West Brom in the play-off semi-finals to spark an important comeback.
Hourihane played regularly under Dean Smith in Villa's first year back in the Premier League as they survived on the final day, but his chances became more limited after the signing of Ross Barkley and he was loaned out to Swansea City in January 2021.
His final appearance for Villa was in the 6-0 win over Barrow in the EFL Cup and then another loan to Sheffield United beckoned.
After his Villa departure, Hourihane joined Derby County and spent two years in League One, eventually helping the Rams to reclaim their Championship status at the end of last season.
Hourihane did initially re-sign for Barnsley after bidding farewell to Pride Park, but after making two appearances in August opted to concentrate his coaching duties at Oakwell.
Barnsley, who play Leyton Orient on Friday, are 11th in League One with four matches to play.
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Tykes chairman Neerav Parekh said: “I have been impressed by Conor over the past five weeks. He has been a model professional and ultimately what we have seen is a change in the style of play which is much more in keeping with what we want to see from the team.
"We want an identity within the football club, a hard-working and organised team that supporters can appreciate and get behind and I believe we have seen that in recent weeks. We are playing more attacking football, the players are getting on the front foot and looking to get fans off their seats, and we are also seeing academy players being trusted to represent the club too."
