The 61-year-old, who last managed Grimsby in 2020, has been announced as the new manager of League Two Swindon.
The Robins sacked Mark Kennedy on Friday morning, with the club third from bottom in the table and with just two wins from 13 league games this season. But they wasted no time in finding a replacement, with Holloway’s appointment confirmed just hours later.
He’s signed a deal with the County Ground side until the end of the season, with his first game in charge being a home game against Gillingham on Saturday.
Speaking after his appointment was confirmed, Holloway told the Swindon website: “I’m delighted to be back working in football after a period out of the game as I wanted to get back into it if the right opportunity arose which, with this opportunity, I feel is the perfect fit for me.
“Conversations happened very quickly and both sides were very keen to get the deal done and of course, I was delighted to engage with a club like Swindon Town, a club of whom I know a lot about due to my location and knowledge of the local area.
“I want to be able to bring everyone together to deliver success and positivity on and off the pitch and I’m delighted to be at The Nigel Eady County Ground tomorrow to meet you all for the first time as Swindon Town Manager and I look forward to a successful time working together.”
Swindon represents the Bristolian’s 10th managerial appointment. As well as Rovers, Holloway has also taken control at the likes of Blackpool, QPR, Crystal Palace, Plymouth, Millwall and Leicester.
He’s guided three of those clubs to promotion, with trips to the Premier League secured with Blackpool (2009-10) and Palace (2012-13) via the Championship play-offs. Holloway was also in charge of QPR when they won automatic promotion from the old Division Two in 2003-03.
At the Gas, the former Rovers player took charge of first-team affairs for four-and-a-half seasons following his appointment as player/manager in 1996. His highest league finish in that time came during the 1997-98 campaign when the team finished fifth and lost to Northampton in the old Division Two play-off semi-finals.
Hollway left the club in January 2001. Later that season, relegation was confirmed after a 21st-place finish.
As a player, Holloway made nearly 400 appearances for Rovers over three spells, after coming through the club’s youth ranks. He won the old Third Division title with the Gas in the 1989-90 season.