The 38-year-old had guided Oxford United to second place in League One, but couldn't resist the call to replace Nigel Pearson in the Robins' hotseat.
The former MK Dons boss arrives at a club mid-table in the Championship and reckons there is bags of potential at Ashton Gate.
"There's an alignment between the playing group at the club, the way I see the game and how I want my teams to play," he said.
"The style of football will be to have the ball, attack, create and score goals - and at the same time be hard to beat.
"I wouldn't have left for any club, but when you look at the set-up here, the training facilities, the stadium, it screams high performance.
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