Rösler answers Wigan call

Former Manchester City FC forward Uwe Rösler has been appointed Wigan Athletic FC manager ahead of Thursday's decisive UEFA Europa League trip to NK Maribor.

Rösler, 45, succeeds Owen Coyle, who left the club earlier this week having taken over at the start of the season. Wigan, relegated while winning the FA Cup to earn a European debut last term, sit 14th in the English Championship, but will make it through to the UEFA Europa League round of 32 if they pick up three points in Slovenia and SV Zulte Waregem lose at Group D winners FC Rubin Kazan.

Rösler, a former East German international who played for 12 different clubs and scored 50 league goals for Manchester City, leaves third-tier promotion challengers Brentford FC having previously coached Norwegian teams Lillestrøm SK, Viking FK and Molde FK. He will start work on Sunday with caretaker manager Graham Barrow in charge of today's league game with Millwall FC

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan said: "Uwe is one of the brightest young managers in the Football League and his ambition is to manage in the Premier League. He impressed me enormously when I spoke to him, he has a strong philosophy about how to play the game and has a desire to shape all aspects of the long term future of the club. I think he can and will achieve great things here at Wigan Athletic."