MAYNOR Figueroa is relishing his reunion with Hull City manager Steve Bruce after seizing the Premier League lifeline thrown by his former boss.
Figueroa completed his free transfer to the KC Stadium yesterday when signing a two-year deal, becoming the first new face to join the Tigers since promotion out of the Championship was secured last month.
Having been released by Wigan in the wake of relegation from the Premier League, a move to East Yorkshire will see the 30-year-old team up with Bruce for a second time.
It was the City boss who first brought Figueroa to English football when manager at the DW Stadium, plucking the defender from Honduran football in 2007.
Almost 200 appearances with Wigan established Figueroa as a top-flight regular and he admits a second chance to play under Bruce tempted him into signing for the newcomers.
"I'm happy to be here and to be a part of the club," said Figueroa, who was also linked with a move to West Ham United this summer. "It is a big challenge for me, but it's certainly one I'm looking forward to.
"When the team were playing the final few games in the Championship, I paid close attention to the results because I wanted Steve to achieve promotion.
"I was happy for him to earn the success. He's a great manager, and I'm looking forward to working with him.
"I watched the Cardiff game (City's dramatic final fixture of the season), and after the final whistle, I turned to my wife and said 'Hull could be an option for me next year'."
As an attack-minded left-sided defender, the Honduran international was much loved by supporters at the DW Stadium. A stunning goal from the halfway line during a 2-2 draw at Stoke in December 2009 saw him win the Premier League's Goal of the Season prize for 2009-10.
Bruce will be immensely satisfied after previously attempting to land Figueroa when manager of Sunderland.
A series of bids up to £6m failed to land the defender in 2009, but he now follows George Boyd in penning a deal ahead of pre-season training next month.
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