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Speed unveiled as new Wales manager

Sheffield United lost half of their matches under Gary Speed © Getty Images

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Gary Speed has been unveiled as the new manager of Wales and the former captain admitted it was a "huge wrench" to leave Sheffield United.

The 41-year-old, who was capped 85 times by his country, penned a three-and-a-half year deal, with the Football Association of Wales digging into its own pockets to pay the Blades' compensation.

Speed, who replaces John Toshack who stepped down in September, took over the reins from Kevin Blackwell at Bramall Lane in August and has struggled since to make his mark in management, leaving the club hovering above the Championship relegation zone.

Despite his lack of managerial experience, Speed has assured Wales fans he has the necessary tools to succeed.

"It's a big task. I'm just thankful I've got the opportunity to come and try and make Wales successful," he said. "It's always going to be thrown at me [my lack of managerial experience]. It's amazing how quickly you learn in this game. Even in the three or four months I've been at Sheffield United I've learnt a lot about managing a football team and that experience is very important."

Although disappointed to leave his post at Bramall Lane, Speed confessed it was an easy decision to answer his country's call.

"It's something that's very difficult to turn down when your country comes calling," he said. "I am a very proud man at this moment to be asked to be manager of Wales. The timing is not always great. I'm disappointed to leave Sheffield United because I feel I had a job to do there and I was fully committed but when your country comes calling it's a tough decision you have to make. I've made that decision and feel in my heart it's the right one."

Speed takes over a side who are bottom of their qualifying group for Euro 2012 and still searching for their first point in Group G and the new man at the helm is fully aware of the task in front of him.

"I think we need to consistently compete on a world stage not just coming close to qualifying every 12 to 15 years," he said. "It's my job to make sure the structure is such that we are consistently competing.

"The group of players that we've got are of an age where we can be together for a long time and improve and grow as a team. I'm looking forward to that challenge of putting things in place so we can try and be successful with those players."

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