Derby new manager: Ex-West Brom boss in running after Paul Warne sack
West Brom ex-manager Valerien Ismael could be back in the Championship once again following the latest sack news from the second tier.
The 49-year-old took the reins at The Hawthorns between June 2021 and February 2022, later returning to England to manage Watford.
Ismael has been out of management since leaving Vicarage Road; the Baggies have seen three permanent managers come through the door since the Frenchman’s departure.
Valerien Ismael in running for Derby job
The latest news coming out of the Championship on Friday afternoon (7 February) is that Paul Warne has been sacked by Derby County, despite having led the Rams to automatic promotion from League One last term.
Several managers have been immediately linked with the vacancy at Pride Park, as Derby look to avoid an immediate drop back to the third tier.
Ismael has been priced at 9/2 with Gambling.com, making him the sixth-favourite for the role behind names such as 11/8 favourite Steven Gerrard, Russell Martin and Steve Cooper.
In 31 games in charge, Ismael managed a 38.71 per cent win rate, bettering his successor Steve Bruce but falling short of Carlos Corberan.
He later spent seven months with Besiktas, before 10 months at Watford, now under the stewardship of Tom Cleverley.
West Brom will not envy Derby’s managerial saga
While Derby’s managerial search is of their own volition, West Brom’s was enforced after Corberan left for Valencia over the Christmas period.
After knock-backs and collapsed discussions, Albion finally sealed their new boss when the returning Mowbray arrived almost a month after his predecessor returned home to Spain.
Chris Brunt led the side in the interim, with the Baggies still very much in the promotion hunt as they sit sixth in the Championship.
Derby have slipped into the relegation zone, provoking Warne’s dismissal having lost their last eight, including an FA Cup exit to lower-league opponents in Leyton Orient.
Their last scalps, way back on Boxing Day? West Brom just after Corberan’s departure, of course.