Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Tim Sherwood has returned to management after being sacked by Spurs at the end of last season after being appointed manager of Aston Villa.

The 46-year-old succeeded Andre Villas-Boas last season and remained in charge at White Hart Lane until the end of the season before being removed from his position - despite finishing with the best Premier League win percentage of any Tottenham boss.

Sherwood has been linked with Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion and Queens Park Rangers since leaving Spurs in May.

He told Villa's website: "It is a great honour to manage one of the biggest clubs in English football.

"I can't wait to get started and I'm really looking forward to the challenge ."

Sherwood made 118 first-team appearances for Spurs, scoring 16 times between 1999 and 2003.