Newly appointed Millwall manager Gary Rowett is itching to get back in the dugout after nine months out of management since his departure from Stoke City.

Rowett departed Stoke in January after winning just nine games out of 29, drawing another 12 of those games and only losing eight, not the worst record however the Stoke board felt as if it was the right thing to do so Rowett was let go from the club.

The 45 year-old has been trying his hand at media work after summarising matches on radio for Birmingham City and Derby County from 2007-2009 after he had retired from playing at an early age. Since being sacked as Stoke manager, Rowett has ended up being a pundit for Sky Sports, and then a pundit for Quest on their Football League highlights.

Rowett has revealed that being a pundit this season has helped him keep up with his Championship knowledge, saying: "I love football. I’d watch countless games, even if I’m not involved in football. To be given this opportunity and here now, having got everything sorted, is really exciting.

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“I can’t wait to start and I also feel this club is a really good fit for me. I hope I’m a good fit for them.”

Rowett has had a fairly long career in management, taking charge of Burton Albion back in 2012 and managing them for 142 games across two years before leaving for Birmingham City in 2014.

At St Andrew's, he managed 106 games across two years before being controversially sacked with Birmingham just outside the Playoffs and he ended up with Derby County in March 2017, taking charge of the Rams for 60 games before heading for his ill-fated Stoke spell in 2018.

The Verdict

Rowett has had an promising career so far in management and just like any manager who finds himself out of work, he'll be itching to get back on the sidelines.

His first game as Millwall manager is likely to be a bitter sweet one, with Millwall taking on his former club Stoke this Saturday and Millwall supporters will be just as excited to see him in the dugout.