Dino Maamria joined Preston from npower League One companions Stevenage alongside manager Graham Westley and assistant boss John Dreyer.

Born in Tunisia, Maamria started his career for native side A.S. La Marsa, winning the Tunisian FA Cup in 1994.

In 1996, the former Tunisian U21 international, joined Burnley but made no first team appearances after picking a bad injury that kept him sidelined.

The following year Maamria joined Doncaster Rovers where he spent two seasons collecting the Player of the Year award in the 1999/00 campaign.

Mark Wright then signed the impressive forward for Southport in the conference national before moving on to Leigh RMI the following year where he amassed an impressive 26 goals in 50 appearances for the Leythers.

Graham Westley signed the centre forward for stevenage Borough in February 2003 for a five figure fee. Maamria stayed at Borough for three seasons where he was best remembered for scoring in both legs of the 2005 play-off semi finals against Hereford United to guide them to the final where they lost to Paul Simpson's Carlisle United.

Maamria came back north in 2006 to re-join Southport for a second spell before joining Westley at Rushden and Diamonds.

He began his coaching career at an early age with Burnley FC's centre of excellence before getting his first chance in management as player/manager for Northwich Victoria in the 2007/08 season. Taking over the club in December who had recorded only one point in 19 games, Maamria finished the season with 45 points, saving them from certain relegation and earning him the Blue Square Premiere Manager of the Year award.

After much publicised financial trouble that Northwich Victoria suffered, he left to join Westley again in November 2008 as first team coach at Stevenage, winning two back-to-back promotions and the FA Trophy at Wembley.

Now at Deepdale, Maamria will be looking to replicate his career's impressive record and help guide the Lilywhites back into the Championship.