View: West Brom manager’s role could be filled by one of seven names
West Brom are searching for a new manager after sacking Valerien Ismael on Wednesday (2 February) following a torrid run of results.
Back-to-back 2-0 defeats to mid-table sides has seen the Baggies slip to fifth in the Championship and 13 points adrift of table-topping Fulham.
The board have decided that now is the time to act and have relieved Ismael of his services as well as assistant coach Adam Murray.
The Birmingham Mail have compiled a list of seven managers who might be ideal for the role so we’re going to analyse each of them.
Steve Bruce
Out of work having been sacked by Newcastle in November, Bruce knows a lot about Midlands football having previously managed Birmingham City and Aston Villa.
Whether he would jump back into management so soon having filed at his boyhood club is unknown but there are definitely worse options to be linked with.
Alex Neil
The Scot has been jobless for some time now having been dismissed by Preston despite doing a solid job for the Lilywhites.
He is still just 40 years of age and has plenty of experience to go with that youthfulness and that might be exactly what the Baggies need right now, don’t rule him out.
Garry Monk
It’s not much of an exciting selection but he does have a wealth of Championship experience with Millwall, Middlesbrough, Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday.
It’s been more than a year without a job in football though and maybe West Brom is too much for someone who has been out that long.
Slavisa Jokanovic
So, you want to get promoted from the Championship, Jokanovic is your man.
He’s done it before with Fulham and Watford and he is hoping to do so again this season. He is currently at Sheffield United but he may be tempted to jump ship if a good enough offer is presented.
Tony Mowbray
Another manager vying for a Premier League position next season, Mowbray is doing fantastic things at Blackburn Rovers this season, having them second in the league.
He seems totally committed to the project at Ewood Park but he too could be persuaded away for the right money.
Enzo Maresca
The only one of the seven who hasn’t managed in England is Maresca, a former Albion player with little experience.
He did manage Parma this season but he was sacked in November with the club languishing in 14th in Serie B, it would be a huge gamble and one they might not be able to afford to take right now.
Chris Hughton
Finally, Hughton, who was a great success at Brighton in getting them promoted to the Premier League and then keeping them there before Graham Potter arrived on the South Coast.
He’s done it before, could he do it again at the Hawthorns?
In other West Brom news, a former teammate of this Albion ace says he could have become a £50million player.