Former Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce has been confirmed as the new manager of Aston Villa. Bruce, who has been out of work since leaving Hull City in the summer, succeeds Roberto Di Matteo at Villa Park.Villa are currently 19th in Sky Bet Championship and host Wolves on Saturday evening, live on Sky Sports 1 HD, in Bruces first match in charge. Its a wonderful opportunity. It is one of the big clubs of this country. To be given the opportunity to manage it is terrific, Bruce told the clubs official website. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just £6.99. No contract. I relish the challenge of trying to take the club where it wants to go and needs to be - and try to turn around the misfortune we seem to have had over the past few years.I am absolutely delighted to have been given the chance. I hope I can do my stuff. Highlights of Aston Villas 2-0 defeat at Preston in the Sky Bet Championship on October 1 - Roberto Di Matteos last game in charge Villa owner Dr Tony Xia added: Im delighted to welcome Steve to the football club. With his track record, not only at leading teams to promotion from the Championship but also vast experience in the Premier League, I believe we have secured the services of an excellent manager. I have had good conversations with Steve and we look forward to working with him.Bruce has previously won promotion to the Premier League on four occasions and was interviewed for the England managers job prior to the appointment of Sam Allardyce in July. Englands loss, Villas gain Ian Holloway believes Steve Bruce is a great appointment for Aston Villa Villa, who face arch-rivals Birmingham on October 30, won only one match during the short reign of Di Matteo and currently sit just two points above the relegation zone.You can watch Premier League football, plus Englands tour of Bangladesh and the British Masters on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy six months at half price! Also See: Bent backs Bruce for Villa role Chester wants to repay Xia Grealish is a delight - Boothroyd Ollies half-term highlights Durham Smythe Jersey . In mens doubles, Vancouvers Vasek Pospisil and American Jack Sock reached the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Croatian Mate Pavic and Andre Sa of Brazil. Jerome Baker Jersey . -- Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson is being checked for a possible concussion after blowing a tire on his way to the first workout of spring training. http://www.dolphinsrookiestore.com/Customized/. Off-Season Game Plan looks at the Capitals possible summer plans, with the understanding that its tough to plot a direction without a general manager or head coach around which to set those expectations. Danny Amendola Jersey . No, really, his head. Late in the game, the St. Louis goalie craned his neck into the air to block a shot, taking a puck square in the mask. Mike Gesicki Dolphins Jersey . While Chelsea stayed two points behind leader Arsenal courtesy of Etoos hat trick, seventh-place United slipped 14 points from the summit this weekend. And the gap from the Champions League places is growing as well, with Liverpool six points ahead in fourth. BARCELONA, Spain -- Santiago Giraldo of Colombia beat Nicolas Almagro 7-5, 6-3 to reach the Barcelona Open final on Saturday, as his Spanish rival suffered a letdown after ousting top-ranked Rafael Nadal. Giraldo will face fourth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan after he beat Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-2, 6-4 in the other semifinal on the red outdoor clay. Almagro slumped to his first loss in six meetings with Giraldo, a day after one of his biggest wins when he upset eight-time winner Nadal at the Real Club de Tenis. "Yesterdays game doesnt serve as an excuse," Almagro said. "Giraldo grazed perfection today, above all in the first set, and I couldnt find the answer." The unseeded Giraldo will be playing for his first career title on Sunday after he saved six of seven break points and finished the match with an emphatic ace. "I have always dreamed of reaching the top spots of the ATP ranking and tomorrow is a first step," Giraldo said. "But I am staying calm. I will keep to my routtine and tomorrow will be a day to enjoy and play the best tennis I can.dddddddddddd" Giraldo prevailed in a match that featured several long rallies by proving more precise with his long groundstrokes. The first set was heading for a tiebreaker until Giraldo snatched it away by breaking Almagros last service game when he swatted a forehand return by the feet of the last years finalist. Almagro got an early break in the second set, but Giraldo won it right back and took control as Almagros nerves frayed with the match slipping away. "He believed more in his tennis, in how he had to play, and he barely made any mistakes," Almagro said. "I committed errors when I could have gone in front. That was the key." Earlier, Nishikoris faster movement overcame Gulbis big serve. Down a set, ninth-seeded Gulbis saved seven break points in the second before finally ceding his serve and losing the match. Nishikori will be seeking his second title of the season and fifth in his career. Wholesale USA Soccer Jerseysdiscount uswnt jerseyWholesale AC Milan JerseysWholesale Arsenal JerseysWholesale A.S. 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