West Brom Appoints Mel as Manager.

Former Real Betis coach Pepe Mel has gotten the nod at West Bromwich Albion to succeed Steve Clarke as manager.

Mel held talks with the Baggies in December but was initially ruled out after it became clear he opted to resume the position with his backroom staff.

He will now work with Baggies assistant head coach Keith Downing and goalkeeper coach Dean Kiely.

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Downing, caretaker manager for the past five matches, will remain in charge for Saturday’s game at Southampton, with Mel watching from the stands.

The 50-year-old former Betis striker was sacked in December after three years in charge of the La Liga outfit.

He will take charge of West Brom for the home game against Everton on January 20.

Pepe Mel Becomes West Brom New Head Coach.
Pepe Mel Becomes West Brom New Head Coach.

The Premier League club are fourteenth on the league standing, four points above the drop zone.

“I’m delighted to welcome Pepe to the club,” sporting and technical director Richard Garlick said

“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.

“Pepe was a strong contender from the outset due to his impressive achievements and has emerged as our number one candidate.

“He is a forward-thinking coach whose teams are renowned for playing an attractive and positive style of football.”

Betis finished seventh last season but a run of ten games without a win and just two wins in all competitions ended Mel’s ties with the club- the highpoint of which was helping the club back into the La Liga as Segunda champions in 2011.

Clarke got the boot following four straight defeats and after guiding West Brom to just seven wins in 34 Premier League games in 2013.