West Brom confirm the appointment of Steve Bruce as boss just three months after his Newcastle sacking… as he signs an 18-month contract to help Baggies get their Championship promotion hopes back on track
- West Brom have confirmed the appointment of Steve Bruce on an 18-month deal
- Bruce replaces Valerien Ismael who was dismissed by the Baggies this week
- The 61-year-old was sacked by Newcastle three months ago and nearly retired
- Bruce said the Magpies role was his last in football but is now back in the game
- The former defender has now managed Aston Villa, Birmingham and Albion
Steve Bruce has been appointed the new manager of West Bromwich Albion on an 18-month-contract.
The former Newcastle boss, who left St James’ Park in October, will be charged with taking Albion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking following the sacking of Valerien Ismael.
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.
West Brom have appointed Steve Bruce (above) as their manager on an 18-month contract
The 61-year-old replaces Valerien Ismael (centre) who was sacked on Wednesday by Albion
‘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 is Bruce’s 11th club as a manager and he follows legendary Aston Villa boss Ron Saunders in taking charge of Villa, Birmingham and Albion. He won promotion with both the Blues and Hull.
Bruce was the first choice of new Albion chief executive Ron Gourlay, who believes he has the sure touch to bring the best from a squad who had become disaffected and disunited under Ismael, who lasted only eight months in the role.
It comes just three months after the 61-year-old was sacked by top-flight side Newcastle
Gourlay said: ‘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.’
West Brom had high hopes of automatic promotion but Bruce arrives with the club eight points adrift of a top-two spot and in the play-off places on goal difference alone.
Albion paid £2million compensation to Barnsley last summer to hire Ismael, who signed a four-year deal.
But fans had turned against his direct style of play and a number of players were disillusioned with his tactics and manner.