West Bromwich Albion have made a key step towards appointing their next manager as they have entered ‘advanced talks’ with a candidate.
The Baggies are in the hunt for their next boss after losing Carlos Corberan on Christmas Eve, with the Spaniard returning to his homeland with Valencia. Since then Chris Brunt and Boaz Myhill have led an interim coaching group, winning one game against Preston North End alongside two draws and a loss.
Wicky On Brink Of Joining
According to a report from The Telegraph’s John Percy, Albion have now entered ‘advanced talks’ with Raphael Wicky, the 47-year-old former Basel manager. He was most recently in charge of Swiss side Young Boys, but left his role in March 2024.
With the Bern-based side he won a league and cup double in the 2022/23 season, and led the team through multiple Champions League campaigns. Percy’s report states that he has been in ‘detailed talks’ with the hierarchy at The Hawthorns over the past week and his appointment is close.
Wicky has beaten both Liverpool assistant John Heitinga and former Manchester United coach Rene Hake, who was revealed to be out of the running by BBC Sport earlier in the day. Luke Williams was an early frontrunner for the job, but reaffirmed his commitment to Swansea City.
West Brom face Bournemouth in the FA Cup Third Round this weekend, and face Stoke City in their next Championship game a week later as they continue their play-off hunt.
Writer’s View
West Brom needed to get a coach through the door soon to keep their play-off ambitions on track and this on paper looks like a good appointment. They are getting a manager with plenty of European experience and working with some of the best players in the Championship. His track record with Young Boys is very good but the Championship is a very different test with the range of budgets across the league. He should be fine though and can keep West Brom as perennial promotion contenders.
