The 45-year-old replaces John Hughes at the helm, after he parted company with Hibs earlier this month. Calderwood leaves his position as assistant manager at Newcastle. The former Scotland defender was also manager of Northampton Town and Nottingham Forest before joining Newcastle in January 2009. He now faces the task of improving results at Hibs, with a poor run leaving them eighth in the table ahead of this weekend's game at Aberdeen. Calderwood admits the chance to be a manager in the SPL was too good an opportunity to turn down. He said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I've spent at Newcastle United. "It has been fantastic to work alongside a brilliant manager in Chris Hughton, and with some great players at the club. "Being part of last season's promotion to the Premier League is something I'm very proud of and I wish Chris, Paul and the team the very best of luck from now on. "The opportunity to manage a top-flight side in my home country was hard for me to turn down, and that is a challenge that I'm greatly looking forward to, but Newcastle will always be a special club to me." Hughton credited Calderwood with having a major role in the club's success last season. He said: "Colin has been a big part of what this club has achieved since he's been here. "He was an integral part of everything we achieved last season, which culminated in us lifting the Championship trophy. "Aside from being a very good friend, Colin is somebody who I have the utmost respect for and I wish him all the best at Hibs." Hibernian chairman Rod Petrie introduced Calderwood at a media conference this evening. Petrie said: "He has signed a three-year contract with us and there are provisions for it to be extended. "He has had great success as a manager in his own right with Northampton Town and Nottingham Forest - almost 300 games as a manager and a win rate of over 45%. "He has achieved three promotions in six years in the clubs he has been at." Calderwood admitted it was a wrench to leave Newcastle but he could not turn down the opportunity to manage in the SPL. "It's a double-edged sword really," he said. "Newcastle are a terrific club with wonderful people, the support staff and the players especially, I had a terrific relationship with them. "So emotionally it was (difficult) but professionally it wasn't. "I always wanted another go at being a manager. Being a coach and assistant to Chris was a wonderful opportunity and we had a super year last year, but I always had an eye on being the number one and setting my own agenda. "It's top-level football. Although my experience has given me a lot of games, I have developed as I did as a player, starting in the lower leagues and coming through. That experience will be invaluable."
