When Mark Hughes leaned on Fulham connection to land iconic QPR signing | OneFootball

Mark Hughes' stint as QPR manager may not be remembered fondly by the Loftus Road faithful, however he was responsible for one key signing

January 2012. Great Britain is gearing up to host the Olympic Games, Thierry Henry has just re-signed for Arsenal and Mark Hughes has been appointed as the new QPR manager.

The Hoops languish 17th in the Premier League table and have just dismissed Neil Warnock. QPR had gone eight top-flight matches without a win and needed to make a change before kissing goodbye to their survival chances.

Hughes was given the job by club chairman Tony Fernandes, who completed his takeover of QPR in August 2011. The then-48-year-old boss had previously enjoyed successful roles with Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City before leaving Fulham, citing his desire "to further my experiences" as "a young, ambitious manager".

The Welshman needed to recruit quickly as he aimed to compile a squad he could go into battle with in the second half of the Premier League season. Quality is hard to come by in the January window, with most clubs unlikely to sell their best players.

However, Hughes used great relationships at previous clubs to bolster his current employers’ frontline.

Mark Hughes’ role in QPR's Bobby Zamora transfer

When deadline day came, QPR acquired two strikers. One was Lazio’s Djibril Cissé, but the other raised eyebrows throughout the country.

Bobby Zamora had made the short trip across West London to leave Fulham and reunite with Hughes.

The Hoops forked out a reported £4 million for his services, highlighting their intent to capture the marksman.

Following his arrival, the forward explained how his previous manager played a huge role in his move to Loftus Road.

"QPR are certainly a club that are looking to go forward," Zamora said. "That's something that I'm looking forward to being a part of.

"I got on really well with the manager at Fulham. We all grew to like Mark. I think that will be the case here. He's looking to take the club forward.

"I think this was the right time for me to have a fresh challenge. I had some great experiences at Fulham. Going to a European final is special. But this is a new challenge for myself and I'm thoroughly looking forward to it."

There was a common feeling between the pair, with Hughes quick to commend Zamora for his performances during their previous spell together.

"Bobby is a guy that makes things happen on the pitch, be it scoring goals or creating chances for others," exclaimed Hughes. "He's a great foil for any team. We needed a player of his ilk at the club and I couldn't be more delighted.

"He was the difference for us at Fulham last season. He came back from injury and he made such an impact in the second half of the campaign. He's got great power and pace and his technical ability is top-class. He's got an excellent left foot."

Fulham’s loss was QPR’s gain, and Zamora would go on to leave quite the mark at Loftus Road.

QPR's Bobby Zamora (C) celebrates with the trophy and team mates after winning the Football League Championship Play Off Final

Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Andrew Couldridge

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Rangers managed to retain their top-flight status that year, despite Zamora scoring just twice in 14 games for the club that term.

Hughes was dismissed in November 2012, with QPR sat bottom of the Premier League. They would remain there after 38 games, winning just four times before returning to the Championship.

However, Zamora’s best moment in a Hoops shirt was yet to come.

QPR had experienced the trials and tribulations of a Championship campaign and ended the long season in the play-off final.

Derby provided the opposition, and the two sides battled for a gruelling 90 minutes, with the score 0-0 as extra-time loomed. Gary O'Neil had been sent off just before the hour mark, with the Rams looking to take advantage and capture promotion.

Up stepped Zamora, who had been substituted on, to strike home a 90th-minute winner and send QPR back to the Premier League, immediately immortalising himself in Loftus Road folklore.

The striker would leave the club a year later and after scoring 14 times in 92 games, may not have been worth the money on paper.

However, that famous strike at Wembley repaid the transfer fee ten times over and is a reason the Hoops will feel somewhat thankful for Hughes’ stint in charge.

Without him, Zamora may never have joined, and the Rangers’ supporters might not have experienced the pure jubilation that the play-off final decider provided.