In his second spell with the Sky Blues, Robins twice led them to promotion, from League Two and League One before reaching the Championship play-off final in 2023, when they lost to Luton Town on penalties.

They then took Manchester United, where Robins started his playing career, to a penalty shootout in last season’s FA Cup semi-final before falling away in the league late on as they failed to match the previous season’s top-six finish.

Stoke started the season under Schumacher, beating Robins’ Coventry on the opening day, but surprisingly sacked him in mid-September to appoint former Huddersfield and Norwich coach Pelach.

However, they won just three times in the 36-year-old Catalan’s 19 games in charge and he was sacked after a 2-0 home reverse by Leeds stretched their winless run to nine matches.

Robins is now the club’s seventh managerial appointment since their 10-year spell in the Premier League came to an end in May 2018. Since being relegated, they have always finished in the bottom half of the Championship – 16th, 15th, 14th, 14th, 16th and 17th.

“With the proven track record Mark brings to the role, I believe this is a genuinely exciting moment for Stoke City,” said Stoke chair John Coates.

“The win over Sunderland, with the way the team competed on the field and connected with the fans, gave everyone a huge boost and provided a glimpse of what can be created at our club.”