Coleman is the youngest top-tier boss since Attilio Lombardo had a brief spell as player-manager at Crystal Palace in 1998 at the age of 32 years and two months.

Coleman had just six months’ coaching experience when he was appointed caretaker chief for the last five games if the season.

He claimed 10 points from a possible 15 – and only confirmed he actually wanted to be considered for the job four days ago, after Sunday’s season-ending 1-0 victory at Charlton.

Coleman’s statement, after insisting for three weeks he was too inexperienced for the post, persuaded chairman Mohamed Al Fayed – a big admirer of the former Welsh international – to tear up his managerial shortlist.

When Tigana’s untidy departure was first announced seven weeks ago, the club’s three-man recruitment panel of chief executive Bruce Langham, vice chairman Bill Muddyman and director Stuart Benson embarked on an exhaustive search for a man described as the “next David Moyes.”

But after interviewing eight candidates and with ex-Bayer Leverkusen boss Toppmoller and Derby’s interim manager Burley preparing for a final meeting with Al Fayed in Paris, the Egyptian changed his mind and plumbed for Coleman.

The ex-Swansea, Crystal Palace, Blackburn and Fulham centre-back was forced to retire in October after an unsuccessful 21-month battle to recover from a January 2001 car crash with left him with a broken right leg.

The bubbly Welshman, nicknamed ’Cookie’, was appointed Under-19s coach in October, promoted to the first-team to deliver team-talks a month later and made caretaker boss when Tigana was finally axed on April 17.

And now Coleman, hugely popular in the dressing room but yet to complete his UEFA coaching badges, has been confirmed as full-time boss at a Press conference at the club’s training ground in Motspur Park, south London.