David O'Leary last night made a surprise return to club management when Aston Villa announced he had signed a three-year deal to succeed Graham Taylor.

O'Leary had been out of work since last June when he was sacked by Leeds United after four years at Elland Road.

The 45-year-old Irishman has made no secret of his desire to return to management since receiving £3.5m in compensation from Leeds. The move, however, is at odds with Villa's statement that interviews with suitable candidates would be held in June with a view to the successful candidate being in place for when the players reported back for pre-season training.

"I'm not trying to be arrogant in any way, but I had lots of chances to go back last season," said O'Leary. "But I've been waiting for the right opportunity and that has come along. We've been negotiating and talking the last four or five days and I appreciate how quietly Aston Villa conducted themselves.

"It's a club that I want to turn around and make it big again and I'm going to try and do that. You have to start putting the club back where it belongs - at the very top. I'm looking forward to giving it my best shot."

O'Leary will take over a team that has just experienced its worst season in the Premiership in eight years by finishing 16th, just three points above the relegation zone.

But his record of steering Leeds to finishes of fifth, third, fourth, fifth and a Champions League sem-final in his four seasons at Elland Road, especially in his first managerial role, endorses the confidence Ellis has in him.

However O'Leary spent more than £90m in the process, a spending spree that has contributed to the current parlous state of Leeds's finances.

His man-management skills were also called into question during the last few months of his time at Leeds, especially following the publication of his book about the club.

Villa's midfielder and lifelong supporter Ian Taylor is convinced they will help O'Leary prove his worth. "It's not a bad appointment and I think the fans will approve," he said. "He did well with some promising youngsters at Leeds and there are some very good ones at Villa." Dennis Mortimer, Villa's 1982 European Cup winning captain who last week began a campaign to oust Ellis added: "I am stunned that it has happened so quickly. But it's good for the players. They wouldn't have wanted to wait until the end of June."