QPR confirm Steven Gerrard’s assistant Michael Beale as their new manager

Beale said he is excited to work with ‘young, hungry team’

Steven Gerrard said Micheal Beale (right) is ‘a top coach and I really enjoy working with him’. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

Queens Park Rangers have appointed Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Aston Villa, Michael Beale, as their manager.

QPR identified Beale, who also worked alongside Gerrard at Rangers, as their No 1 target on a three-man shortlist, which included the MK Dons head coach, Liam Manning. Gerrard first worked in the Liverpool academy alongside Beale, who has also coached at São Paulo.