West Brom have confirmed Pepe Mel as their new head coach on an 18-month contract. The 50-year-old Spaniard moves to the Hawthorns as a permanent replacement for Steve Clarke, who was sacked last month. Mel's most recent job was with Real Betis, who dispensed of his services on December 2. Mel's greatest crime in Andalusia was to fail to live up to the success of last season, with a seventh-placed finish earning them a Europa League spot. A heavy 4-0 loss to rivals Sevilla essentially saw him off but he has been out of work for less than six weeks, with Albion identifying him as the man they wanted.
Sporting and technical director Richard Garlick said on the club's official website: "I'm delighted to welcome Pepe to the club. "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."
Keith Downing and Dean Kiely, who have led the Baggies with some credit for the five games since Clarke's departure, are to assist Mel, whose coaching CV also lists the likes of Alaves and Getafe. The pair will be on the touchline against Southampton this weekend, with Mel in the stands.
Mel takes over a side out of the FA and League cups and 14th in the Premier League, some four points off the drop zone.
