HAILED as the club's greatest ever manager by current Chairman Peter Coates, Tony Pulis has rolled back the years to bring the glory days back to the Potteries during his second spell in charge of the side.

Having already masterminded a quite remarkable promotion winning campaign back in 2008 to end a 24-year long exile from the top flight of English football, Pulis has built upon that in quite remarkable fashion.

Written off from the moment he reacquainted himself with the Potters following the return of Coates five years ago, nobody can argue with the job he has carried out at Potters HQ, having taken the Potters on an incredible journey from the lower echelons of the Championship to the Barclays Premier League, as well as leading he club in to its first ever FA Cup Final.

The Welshman will be the first to acknowledge the monumental importance of the backing of the chairman in the transfer market, but it has without doubt been his transfer dealings, together with his dedicated and workmanlike approach to the job which have catapulted the Potters up the footballing pyramid.

Tony initially began his management career at Bournemouth, following on in the footsteps of close friend Harry Redknapp, who had recommended him for the job. He then enjoyed considerable success at Gillingham, rebuilding a struggling Third Division side and leading them into the Second Division play-offs.

His next port of call was Bristol City, however things didn't pan out as was hoped at Ashton Gate, meaning he swiftly moved on to join Milan Mandaric's Portsmouth at the turn of the century. He again helped Pompey retain their Championship status despite seeming certainties for the drop.

In 2002 he was appointed as the new Stoke City manager by the Icelandic Consortium. His first achievement at the Britannia Stadium was to successfully steer the club clear of relegation from Division One in 2003 and firmly established the club in the new Coca-Cola Championship before his departure to join Plymouth in the summer of 2005.

His second spell as City boss coincided with Peter Coates takeover of the club in the summer of 2006. The Welshman had spent seven months at Plymouth Argyle during his "year off" from the managerial reigns at the Britannia Stadium, and steered the Pilgrims away from the relegation zone to finish safely in mid-table.

The rest is history...