Even though City have finished below Rovers in the last two Barclays Premier League campaigns, Hughes had no hesitation in accepting the job at Eastlands once Blues owner Thaksin Shinawatra made his approach.

With the kind of resources Blackburn no longer have access to since the death of steel magnate Jack Walker, Dr Thaksin's appeal was obvious even for someone like Hughes, so steeped in Manchester United history.

And, although he enjoyed his four years at Ewood Park, the 44-year-old felt the time was right to move on.

great danger 

"I am very proud of what I achieved at Blackburn but I have no regrets at leaving," he said.

"When I arrived there four years ago, they were second bottom of the Premier League and in great danger of being relegated.

"It took a huge effort by everyone to turn the club around and enable it to be successful. We reached three semi-finals got into Europe and achieved a top-six finish.

"But the amount of work we had to put in to achieve those goals was immense. I knew there was a limit to how far I could take them. Now I am at a club that can match my ambitions."