Newcastle appoint Roeder on permanent basis
Shearer club ambassador
Newcastle United appointed Glenn Roeder as their manager on a permanent basis yesterday.
The 50-year-old, who has been caretaker manager at the club since the sacking of Graeme Souness in February, has signed a two-year contract.
"Obviously I'm very elated to be given this opportunity," Roeder told a news conference.
The former Newcastle captain was cleared last week to take up the post by the Premier League even though he has yet to secure the necessary managerial licence.
Roeder steered the club from 15th to seventh place in the league after stepping in to replace Souness.
Newcastle will play in next season's Intertoto Cup.
Speaking to Newcastle World TV, he added: "I know all about this club, having played here for almost six years and having captained the team.
"I'm an extremely lucky person to have been given this opportunity, and it is an opportunity I want to take.
"When I came up here as a player I suppose that having an ambition of managing the team wouldn't have been an option. As I went on I'd have said I'd like to be a manager here one day.
"Now it has happened it shows that dreams do come true.
"If you work hard and fight for the dream, it proves that anything in life is possible and when the opportunity comes along you have to be ready for it."
Roeder was in the process of applying for his Pro-Licence when he suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2003 while in charge at relegation-bound West Ham United.
The Premier League's decision to allow him to take up the post without a licence has been criticised by the League Managers' Association.
Newcastle also confirmed yesterday that former striker Alan Shearer, who retired this season, would remain at the club in the newly created role of Sporting Ambassador.
"His role is exactly what it says on the tin," said chairman Freddy Shepherd.
"He will be our ambassador around the world."
Newcastle-born Shearer as-sisted Roeder when he moved into the manager's office on an interim basis following the dismissal of Souness.
"Alan Shearer is a great influence around the place, not just on the pitch but off it as well," Roeder said.