As a player, former Manchester United, Chelsea and Wales striker Mark Hughes was never one to shy away from a challenge. But he has probably never faced a bigger test than his current task of trying to save Carlisle United from dropping out of the Football League.
Some might find it strange that Hughes, 61, who has managed six Premier League clubs including Manchester City and the Welsh national team, should be in charge of a geographically remote club in the depths of League Two. But he clearly feels he has something to offer the Cumbrian side in its desperate relegation fight.
It is not the first time Hughes has been at the helm of a fourth-tier side. In February 2022 he was appointed manager of Bradford City. It was the first time he had managed a club not in the Premier League. It began quite well as he took them to the playoffs but the next season things didn't work out and he was sacked with City in a lowly 18th place.
But Hughes is ready for more and last month he signed up as head coach for Carlisle, who are sitting at the very bottom of League Two. He is the club's third manager this season.
Explaining Hughes' appointment Carlisle's sporting director Rob Clarkson said, "Mark's stature and experience in the game speaks for itself. He is someone who will instantly command respect."
Hughes was well aware of the enormous task he was taking on with Carlisle only having won twice at their Brunton Park home all season. So what progress has he made? There are hints of promise.
After two losses and two draws Hughes would have been mightily relieved when he picked up his first win recently with a narrow 1-0 away victory over Cumbrian rivals Barrow.
"The lads enjoyed the emotion of it," Hughes told Radio Cumbria. "I'm pleased for them".
It was enough for Carlisle owner Tom Piatak to give Hughes his full backing: "I'm confident he will get us out of this," he said.
On Tuesday a 1-1 home draw against league leaders Walsall was an encouraging result but Carlisle remain three points from safety.
Founded in 1904, Carlisle are the closest English club to Scotland. They have spent most of their time in the lower divisions.
However, older Carlisle supporters will fondly remember when they won promotion to the top flight in 1974 and briefly were actually top. Unfortunately, they could not sustain the form and were relegated that same season.
Carlisle were involved in a memorable moment at the end of the 1998-99 season. On the final day, the struggling Cumbrians went to Plymouth Argyle in what was then Divisions 3, knowing they would drop out of the Football League if they didn't win. The game had gone into injury time, and with the score 1-1, Carlisle looked doomed.
With just 10 seconds of injury time left, Carlisle goalie Jimmy Glass, on loan from Swindon, went up for a corner. With the last kick of the game he banged the ball home to save Carlisle and send Scarborough Town into the Conference. It has become part of football folklore, with an ecstatic Carlisle chairman Michael Knighton coming out with the immortal line: "If that's not entertainment, then I'm a banana."
Hughes' immediate task is to forget about bananas and get a result at Harrogate Town today. He could definitely do with the spirit that saved Carlisle in 1999.
Some might find it strange that Hughes, 61, who has managed six Premier League clubs including Manchester City and the Welsh national team, should be in charge of a geographically remote club in the depths of League Two. But he clearly feels he has something to offer the Cumbrian side in its desperate relegation fight.
It is not the first time Hughes has been at the helm of a fourth-tier side. In February 2022 he was appointed manager of Bradford City. It was the first time he had managed a club not in the Premier League. It began quite well as he took them to the playoffs but the next season things didn't work out and he was sacked with City in a lowly 18th place.
But Hughes is ready for more and last month he signed up as head coach for Carlisle, who are sitting at the very bottom of League Two. He is the club's third manager this season.
Explaining Hughes' appointment Carlisle's sporting director Rob Clarkson said, "Mark's stature and experience in the game speaks for itself. He is someone who will instantly command respect."
Hughes was well aware of the enormous task he was taking on with Carlisle only having won twice at their Brunton Park home all season. So what progress has he made? There are hints of promise.
After two losses and two draws Hughes would have been mightily relieved when he picked up his first win recently with a narrow 1-0 away victory over Cumbrian rivals Barrow.
"The lads enjoyed the emotion of it," Hughes told Radio Cumbria. "I'm pleased for them".
It was enough for Carlisle owner Tom Piatak to give Hughes his full backing: "I'm confident he will get us out of this," he said.
On Tuesday a 1-1 home draw against league leaders Walsall was an encouraging result but Carlisle remain three points from safety.
Founded in 1904, Carlisle are the closest English club to Scotland. They have spent most of their time in the lower divisions.
However, older Carlisle supporters will fondly remember when they won promotion to the top flight in 1974 and briefly were actually top. Unfortunately, they could not sustain the form and were relegated that same season.
Carlisle were involved in a memorable moment at the end of the 1998-99 season. On the final day, the struggling Cumbrians went to Plymouth Argyle in what was then Divisions 3, knowing they would drop out of the Football League if they didn't win. The game had gone into injury time, and with the score 1-1, Carlisle looked doomed.
With just 10 seconds of injury time left, Carlisle goalie Jimmy Glass, on loan from Swindon, went up for a corner. With the last kick of the game he banged the ball home to save Carlisle and send Scarborough Town into the Conference. It has become part of football folklore, with an ecstatic Carlisle chairman Michael Knighton coming out with the immortal line: "If that's not entertainment, then I'm a banana."
Hughes' immediate task is to forget about bananas and get a result at Harrogate Town today. He could definitely do with the spirit that saved Carlisle in 1999.
