Ten months after leaving the club, Vinny Perth has returned to Dundalk as head coach.
He fills a position left vacant by the twin departures in April of Shane Keegan, and his successor in the Oriel Park hot seat - Filippo Giovagnoli.
Perth returns to Dundalk with the club third from bottom in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division, having won just twice in their last seven games.
Dundalk state that Perth will report to sporting director Jim Magilton, who had been in temporary charge of the club since April.
His appointment ends an arduous search for a replacement, which had even seen the Lilywhites speak to All Ireland football winning manager Jim McGuinness.
Perth took up the reins at Oriel Park following the departure of Stephen Kenny. He was named PFAI manager of the year in 2019 after leading them to the Premier Division title and EA Sports Cup.
The 44-year old had made no secret of his openness to a return.
He told Off The Ball in April, "The Dundalk project, I don’t think, is over yet. I believe that Dundalk as a squad is as good as any other squad and they can still win the league this year.
“I have unfinished business in football and League of Ireland. I definitely have unfinished business in Dundalk.
“It was a huge part of my life for eight years.”
Perth is set to be in the dugout for Friday night's Premier Division visit of Longford Town to Oriel.
Dundalk have also been given a favourable draw in the UEFA Europa Conference League. They'll play Newtown of Wales in the first qualifying round. Should they safely navigate that tie, they'll play either Levadia Tallinn or St. Joseph's (Gibraltar).
