West Bromwich Albion have appointed Steve Bruce as manager following Valerien Ismael’s departure.
Ismael was sacked yesterday (2 February) following a run of one win in the Baggies’ last eight matches in all competitions, with Assistant Head Coach, Adam Murray also leaving the club.
In a short statement announcing their departures, West Brom commented: ‘The club would like to place on record its thanks to Valérien and Adam for their efforts and wishes them well in the future.’
Bruce has since been appointed as their new manager on a 18 month contract until Summer 2023 with his immediate task to take West Brom to promotion this season, with the club currently eight points off automatic promotion spots.
Speaking about his decision to become West Brom’s fifth manager in the last three years, Bruce said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to manage a club that has such great history and tradition.
“It is a club I obviously know well from my time in the Midlands, and I am already relishing the challenge of taking it forward.”
This move also sees Bruce back in management just three months after he was sacked at Newcastle United following a Saudi-Arabia led takeover.
Commenting on his unexpected opportunity, Bruce added: “I did not envisage I would return to management this quickly, but once I got the phone call from Ron, I knew I could not resist the challenge of getting this club back to where they want to be.
“I am coming in with one aim and that is to get Albion to the Premier League.”
West Brom’s newest Chief Executive Officer, Ron Gourlay meanwhile described Bruce as “a highly-respected and experienced manager” with “an impressive record of earning promotion to the Premier League”, having previously achieved promotion with Birmingham and Hull.
Explaining what made the Club opt to sign Bruce as manager, Gourlay added: “His excellent man-management skills, tactical nous, and ability to hit the ground running were among the many reasons we decided he was the man to take us forward.
“Promotion remains our objective for this season, and we are confident that with Steve leading the club we have given ourselves every chance of achieving that goal.”
Bruce’s first match as West Brom manager sees the Baggies play away to Sheffield United on Wednesday 9 February, before his home debut at The Hawthorns takes place on Monday 14 February against Blackburn Rovers live on Sky Sports.
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