ALL-time Blackburn Rovers great Tugay yesterday made an emotional return to Ewood Park and declared – ‘this place is in my heart and in my mind and will never leave me’.

Five years after departing the club where he remains an idol the former midfield maestro was back on his old stamping ground.

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After spells as assistant manager to Gheorghe Hagi and Roberto Mancini at Galatasaray Tugay is determined to become a boss in his own right.

The 94-times capped Turkey international, who scored some 13 goals in 294 appearances for Rovers until his retirement in 2009, is basing himself in England as this is where he would like to start his own managerial career.

And having returned to these shores at the weekend Tugay could not pass up the chance to call in on the club he calls his ‘second home’ – before granting the Lancashire Telegraph a rare interview.

“I played here for eight years and I miss it a lot,” said the 44-year-old, who is not ruling out job offers from abroad after leaving Galatasaray, along with Mancini, at the end of last season.

“It was like a family to me – the team, the chairman, the fans. We were like one big family.”

Tugay’s last match in a Rovers shirt – and the last match in a 22-year playing career which started out at Galatasaray and included an 18-month stay at Rangers – came on a moving afternoon at Ewood on May 24, 2009.

Following the 0-0 draw with West Brom to end the campaign the ‘Turkish Delight’ received a rapturous send-off by his adoring public.

But Tugay, a £1.3m arrival from Rangers in May 2001, insists the feeling was always mutual.

“It was an unbelievable reception,” he said.

“The atmosphere was always great but that last game was just unbelievable.

“You always have to have good relationships with the fans.

“But it’s what you do on the pitch that matters. If you have good times, then you will bond with them.”

In a poll to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Football League last season Tugay was voted by Rovers supporters as being second only to Alan Shearer as their all-time fans’ favourite and as their greatest player.

Tugay said: “It’s great to be honoured with this.

“But it’s not only for me. It’s for the club, the people who work at the club, the fans – we were all part of it.

“Everything was in the right place and that’s why I’m thankful for my time here.

“Blackburn Rovers is in my heart and in my mind and it will never leave me.”

A young Rovers side, meanwhile, welcome Preston North End to Brockhall this afternoon for a Lancashire FA Senior Cup first-round tie (1.30pm).

Fans are welcome and admission is free.

Rovers will line-up as: Raya, Daly, Doyle, Tanner, Lavelle, Lenihan, Mahoney, Bauress, Rittenberg, O'Sullivan, Cham. Subs: Preston, Crump, Paulo Jorge, Carson, Joel.