Barnsley have turned back the clock by reappointing Daniel Stendel as their head coach, handing the German a two-year contract to lead the Tykes forward.

The 52-year-old takes over from Conor Hourihane, who stepped down at the end of a season that saw Barnsley finish 15th in League One—a campaign that fell short of expectations for a club with promotion ambitions.

Stendel is no stranger to success at Oakwell. In 2019, he masterminded a remarkable promotion from the third tier, guiding the Tykes to a club-record 91 points and etching his name into Barnsley folklore. However, that fairy tale took a sharp turn when he was dismissed just months later in October 2019, following a difficult start to life in the Championship.

Since leaving Yorkshire, Stendel has built a diverse managerial resume. He had stints in Scotland with Hearts, took the reins at French club Nancy, and most recently returned to his homeland to manage Hanover 96's second team. Now, he's back where it all began, ready to write a new chapter with the Tykes.