Pulis has a reputation within the game for taking clubs beyond their means and achieving success on a small budget. Getting his FA coaching badge at the tender age of 19, Pulis was one of the youngest ever professional players to obtain the qualification and followed it up by picking up his UEFA 'A' licence aged 21.

His playing career involved spells with Bristol Rovers, Newport County, Bournemouth and Gillingham, and in 1990 he returned to Bournemouth for a second spell as he took on a player-coach role.

In 1992, after Harry Redknapp decided to move to West Ham, Pulis became the club's manager and spent two years there. By 1995, Pulis had the experience behind him to try his hand with another side and Gillingham, struggling at the bottom of the Football League, gave him his opportunity in 1995. In his very first season, he turned the club around and got promotion to the Second Division; in 1999, he nearly took them a step further, leading the Gills to the play-off final, where they were defeated by Manchester City on a penalty shootout.

Despite his success, Pulis was sacked after the defeat amid claims of gross misconduct. Afterwards, he brought court action against the club for unpaid bonuses, and the case was eventually settled in 2001 for £75,000. With his reputation taking something of a blow, Pulis was appointed manager of Bristol City. His previous stint with Bristol Rovers meant reaction to his appointment was mixed, but fans truly turned on their new boss six months into his tenure when rumours of a switch to Portsmouth surfaced.

They had every reason to be upset in January 2000 as Pulis moved to the club Milan Mandaric had recently taken over as chairman. While Pulis may not have impressed in Bristol, he also failed to win over the Portsmouth fans. Lasting only ten months in charge, he was replaced by Steve Claridge in October and spent two years out of work.

In 2002, Stoke City offered him a job and he kept them up. The following season saw Pulis lead the club to a more respectable 11th place, but a disagreement over transfer funds between the manager and the club's Icelandic owner, Gunnar Gislason (who claimed he failed to ''exploit the foreign transfer market"), led to his departure in June 2005.

Taking his ability to turn around struggling teams to Plymouth Argyle, Pulis made sure that the side who were flirting with relegation finished the season in 14th place. However, in May 2006, Stoke offered him the chance to return, and Pulis was keen to work under new owner Peter Coates.

The Potters finished eighth, and Pulis then lifted the club into the Premier League for the first time in 23 years the following season. With a small budget, and the odds against him, Pulis established Stoke in the Premier League over the seasons that followed, and it was a mark of his success with the club that they reached the FA Cup final at Wembley in 2011 and, as a result, secured European football in the 2011-12 campaign.

Strengths: A pragmatic manager, he is focused and committed to his vision and has achieved great things in the transfer market when working on a shoestring budget.

Weaknesses: He has been criticised for the way he spent his money in the summer of 2011, with Stoke finishing in their lowest position since returning to the top-flight despite splashing out, while his selections have sometimes raised eyebrows among fans.

Career high: Leading Stoke to Premier League promotion on the final day of the 2007-08 season. It was to be Stoke's first top flight campaign in 23 years.

Career low: Sacked by Gillingham in 1999 amid claims of gross misconduct, which led to a two-year court case that was eventually settled in 2001.

Tactics: Set-pieces - and most famously the long throw-in - have been key to Stoke's success, though he has shown a fondness for skilful wingers. The long ball is likely to remain a feature of Stoke's game for as long as Pulis is in charge.

Quotes: "I have been unfortunate in one or two situations where I have gone into clubs and cured the trouble and have just been ready to push on and for one reason or another, the rug seems to have been pulled from under me. But I love my job and the game and I just get on with it." Tony Pulis, 2005.

Trivia: He completed the 2009 London marathon in four hours, 31 minutes, 57 seconds. Not bad.