Ian Holloway replaces Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as new QPR manager

He returns to the club 10 and a half years after he left it

Holloway left the club in 2006 after rumours linking him with Leicester City (Getty)

Ian Holloway has returned to QPR for a second spell as manager.

The 53-year-old, who also made more than 150 appearances as a player at Loftus Road, has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the west London club.

He replaces Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who was sacked last week with Rangers lying 17th in the Championship.

Holloway told .qpr.co.uk: "I feel honoured, privileged and proud. It's a huge moment for me and I am delighted to be back here.

"I feel this is the right time for me. I feel like I'm back home now and I can't wait to get started.

"I care deeply for this football club and I want to help Les (Ferdinand), (chief executive) Lee (Hoos) and our wonderful owners create something we can all be proud of.

"Does anyone know this club better than me? Probably not. Has it changed much? Maybe. But I know what it means to everyone out there.

"People would die for this club - and I want our players to show that in their performance, and our fans to show them that they care about the players as much as I will do as their manager.

"My job is to try and help this squad improve and create an environment that the players can succeed in, especially at Loftus Road, where the fans love to see players express themselves.

Holloway previously managed the club between 2001 to 2006 (Getty)

"I want to try and galvanise this squad and make my owners smile. Hopefully this is the start of something here."

Rangers were also linked with Birmingham boss Gary Rowett and former Tottenham chief Tim Sherwood, who has since become director of football at Swindon.

Instead they turned to Holloway, who spent five years in charge of Rangers during a turbulent spell when they went into administration and were relegated to League One.

He remains a popular figure at the club after guiding them to the play-off final in 2003 and to promotion back to the Championship the following year.

Holloway left in 2006 and has since led Blackpool and Crystal Palace to promotion to the Premier League.

But he has been out of management since a disappointing spell in charge at Millwall was brought to an end in March 2015.

PA.