West Bromwich Albion have appointed Pepe Mel as the head coach of the club, to replace Steve Clarke who was sacked almost four weeks ago.
Mel has signed an 18-month contract and takes over from caretaker manager Keith Downing. The 50-year-old Spaniard’s first match in charge will be the Monday, January 20 match at home against Everton.
Prior to West Brom, Mel steered Real Betis to a seventh-place finish in La Liga last term and qualification for the Europa League.
“His appointment concludes an extensive recruitment process during which we have cast the net far and wide to identify the most suitable candidate to take the Club forward,” said Sporting & Technical Director, Richard Garlick. “Pepe was a strong contender from the outset due to his impressive achievements and has emerged as our No.1 candidate. He is a forward thinking coach whose teams are renowned for playing an attractive and positive style of football.”
Downing will remain in charge for this Saturday’s game against Southampton.
Pepe Mel was interviewed for the job in December and was close to being appointed, but the discussions fell through after the Spaniard wanted to bring in his own coaching staff. Mel compromised, and will work along with Downing and Dean Kiely, who will continue in their present roles as Assistant Head Coach and Goalkeeping Coach respectively.
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