Hughes extends contract as Wales manager

Wales manager Mark Hughes has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him in the job until 2006.

Wales manager Mark Hughes has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him in the job until 2006.

The former Manchester United striker has steered Wales to an eight-match unbeaten run.

"Mark has signed a two-year extension to his current contract which he delivered to our offices on Friday," an Football Association of Wales spokesman said today.

"His deal up until now had been on a part-time basis. But he will now be on a full-time contract for the next four years."

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Wales have made an excellent start to their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign, winning their first three games to boost their chances of reaching their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.

They sit on top of Group Nine with three wins out of three, defeating Finland, Italy and Azerbaijan.

Wales pulled off one of the greatest results in their history last October when they beat Italy 2-1.

Hughes, capped more than 70 times by Wales, retired from playing in July after not being offered a new contract by Blackburn Rovers.