Veteran Bolton Wanderers midfielder Gary Speed has been named first-team player-coach by new manager Sammy Lee.
The former Wales captain will take up his role immediately with the club on the brink of securing a UEFA Cup place.
Speed, 37, will join Ricky Sbragia and Jimmy Phillips as first-team coaches at the Reebok Stadium reporting to Lee, who has replaced Sam Allardyce.
Lee believes Speed has a bright future in coaching, once he retires from the game.
The Bolton boss said: 'Gary is a model professional and has great aspirations to be a top-class coach. He is a highly-qualified having recently gained his UEFA A licence.
'He has great tactical and technical knowledge and is highly-respected by his team-mates.'
Speed added: 'I am saddened by the departure of Sam Allardyce - he has created a legacy that everyone is proud of here at Bolton.
'But everyone knows that life must go on and we have the responsibility of taking Bolton forward. I am delighted to be joining a new exciting era for the club under the leadership of Sammy Lee.
'Sammy has great ambition to take the club forward and I am looking forward to being part of that process.'
