Birmingham City have appointed Gary Rowett as interim manager until the end of the season, stepping in for Ipswich Town legend Tony Mowbray.

Mowbray had a five-year stint at the Blues towards the end of his playing career, becoming team captain and helping them reach the Premier League in 2000. He scored the equalising goal in the Division One play-off final, where they beat Barnsley 4-2 to win promotion.

It was his Wembley debut and the last match of his playing career. He retired and became a coach at Town, taking over as caretaker manager following the sacking of George Burley and prior to the appointment of Joe Royle.

SIGN-UP! Get four months of ALL our Town coverage for just £4 - or 40% off a whole year!

He's since had spells at numerous clubs in the English Football League and in Scotland, most recently joining Birmingham City after being sacked by Sunderland in December 2023.

Replacing Wayne Rooney, he won three of his first six games at the club before it was announced that be stepping away from on-site management for a period of six to eight weeks in order to undergo medical treatment on February 19th.

Assistant manager and ex-Town defender Mark Venus took charge in his absence, but a run of five defeats in six games has seen Birmingham drop down to 21st place - just one point above the relegation zone with eight games to play.

As a result, Mowbray and Venus have taken a leave of absence until the start of pre-season in 2024/25, allowing Gary Rowett to step in until the end of the campaign.

East Anglian Daily Times: Tony Mowbray will return at the start of pre-season in 2024/25Tony Mowbray will return at the start of pre-season in 2024/25 (Image: PA)

Rowett had a two-year spell at St. Andrew's earlier in his career, but he was shockingly sacked in 2016 with the club sitting in seventh place. 

Since then, he's taken charge of Derby County, Stoke City and Millwall, guiding the latter to the brink of the play-offs last year before falling just short on the final day of the season. He left the Lions in October 2023, ending a near four-year spell via mutual consent.

His focus has primarily been on punditry and podcasting, having turned down an approach from Rotherham United earlier in the campaign. League One clubs Charlton Athletic, Burton Albion and Cambridge United were also linked with moves for the 50-year-old.

A return to his former club proved to be too tempting, however, and he now has just over six weeks to help them retain their Championship status. Rowett's first match in charge will come away at QPR on Good Friday.

Ipswich have already played Birmingham twice this season, drawing 2-2 at St. Andrew's back in October before securing a 3-1 win at Portman Road at the end of last month.