Following confirmation that Nigel Pearson has returned to manage Leicester City after 17 months away from the club, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the 48-year-old's career.

A centre-back in his playing days, Pearson earned himself a reputation as a tough-tackling defender during spells with Shrewsbury Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough.

Pearson captained every club he represented and had a knack of guiding his side to cup finals.

However, despite featuring in four finals, he ended his career in 1998 with just one winner's medal to his name as Wednesday defeated Manchester United 1-0 in 1991.

Pearson moved into management at the age of 35, taking over at non-league Carlisle United where he achieved promotion to Football League.

Spells as assistant at Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United followed, before he was riding solo once again with Southampton in February 2008.

He would only spend four months in charge on the South Coast though, after accepting an invitation from Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric to manage the Foxes.

Instant success followed as Pearson guided Leicester back to the Championship at the first attempt in 2009.

His hopes of achieving back-to-back promotions were halted by a penalty shootout loss to Cardiff City in the semi-finals of the playoffs in May 2010.

The next stop was the KC Stadium and Hull City following a reported summer falling-out with the Leicester board. It would be a largely disappointing season for the Tigers and Pearson though, ending the season in 11th place.

Now, just over a year after leaving, Pearson is back at the King Power Stadium intent on finishing what he started.