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West Brom finally appoint new manager following multiple twists

West Brom finally appoint their new manager following the multiple twists we have seen play out since Sam Allardyce’s exit.

The Baggies name Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael as their new head coach on a four-year contract, after the former Crystal Palace defender Ismael took over at Barnsley last October with the club 21st in the Championship table.

They won 25 of his 44 games in charge to finish fifth before losing to Swansea City in the playoff semi finals stage for the 2020/21 season.

WEST BROM CLUB STATEMENT:

West Bromwich Albion are delighted to confirm the appointment of Valérien Ismaël as the club’s new Head Coach.

Ismaël has signed a four-year contract at The Hawthorns after Albion agreed a compensation package with Barnsley. The Frenchman guided the Tykes to an impressive fifth-placed finish in the Sky Bet Championship last season.

The 45-year-old is set to arrive in the United Kingdom later this week and will follow Government COVID-19 quarantine rules prior to joining his first-team squad for pre-season training.

Chief Executive Officer, Xu Ke, also known as Ken, is delighted to have recruited Ismaël and is confident the former Nuremberg, Wolfsburg, LASK and Barnsley boss is the right man to lead Albion into the new campaign and beyond.

He said: “I am delighted to welcome Valérien to The Hawthorns. Valérien has established a reputation as an excellent coach and I have been impressed by his professionalism, enthusiasm and hunger to succeed. His performance last season with Barnsley, and his coaching career to date, all point to a man who has a long, successful career in front of him. It is my hope that he is with us for at least the next four years.

“I am confident that by working together we will be able to achieve our goal of returning to the Premier League, but success is earned by building on strong foundations, and our plans must now look further into the future. For too long we have focused only on what is immediately in front of us. This means we have often neglected our long-term aspirations.

“We are all aware of what will be required in order to be successful and player recruitment will be of the utmost importance. Valérien and I will immediately focus on preparing the squad for the new season, working together with Ian Pearce, our Head of Recruitment, to secure talented transfer targets who will strengthen us for the challenges ahead, ensuring fans are once more proud to support this great club.

“I am excited to be working with Valérien and I am sure we will soon establish a strong relationship that will be to the benefit of the football club and its supporters.”

BARNSLEY CLUB STATEMENT:

It is with disappointment that Barnsley FC can today confirm Valérien Ismaël has left the Club to join Sky Bet Championship side, West Bromwich Albion.

The 20/21 season will live long in the memory of all those with an affinity to the Reds. The Club would like to thank Valérien for his efforts over the last nine months. He and his family will always be welcome at Oakwell.

The Club would also like to thank supporters, players and staff for their patience during this period. Now, continued progression must be ensured, with the recruitment process for a new head coach already underway. 

All proceeds from the buyout of the contract will be utilised to strengthen the squad ahead of the forthcoming season. A further update will follow in due course.

– STATEMENT ENDS –

Fans reacted after seeing West Brom finally appoint their new manager following multiple twists…

@JonW1995: Welcome Valerian! You have a clean slate to show what you can do here, a pre season, a transfer window with a squad revamp needed and a full season ahead! I’m looking forward to seeing what you put together!

@westbrom1954: Well done at last- give him a decent budget to make sure we bounce straight back

@JLRXVIIIII: We absolutely love to see it

@lukestokes84: Well talk may be cheap and i may be an eternal optimist but those words from Ken resonate and touch thought we baggies have had for a while. Well done to Ken getting this sorted. Great statement of intent COYB

@wbaIiam: YESSSSSS

@AidyDews: Be an hard act to follow at Barnsley! Footy wasn’t always great at times though….

@KiranGill0: Took you long enough. Let’s gooooooo

@JN19WBA: YESSSSSS COME ONNNNNN

@gregclarkefound: Can we have Harper now please

@kylebarrettt: 120 points confirmed for you guys next season

@Gingerjoony: About time they announced it! Now we can get excited for the season ahead!!

@gemmadowneswba: Welcome to our club Valerien!! Hopefully we can welcome you properly in August!! 💙🤍

Reaction then turned to Barnsley’s Twitter as West Brom finally appoint their new manager following multiple twists…

@VillaVisionBen: Shame. But good appointment for west brom

@AlexRed00561762: NOOO. Best of luck at West Brom and thank you for everything ❤️

@wayneg4: Did an outstanding job, along with the players and no doubt will be successful at his newclub. Best wishes, now it’s time to look forward.
Am sure the process to replace will be as diligent as the last three occasions have.

@ianvodden: All the best, thanks for the ride this season but please leave Mowatt alone

@King_stylezz: Remember when there was actually loyalty in the world

@WAFCNathan: Strange move considering Barnsley got automatic promotion after finishing 5th last season.

@hxckman1: For fuck sake Barnsley can we not have a manger for more than 1 season

@tomlogan3000: All the best Val, you will be a very hard man to replace

@BenjPowell: It is what it is, it couldn’t be stopped, not after the season we’ve just had. Best of luck, Val!

@Ben_Oldroyd: Be a lot of folk upset n that. But if someone offered you double wage you was on at work and said you’ve got however much money you want to spend on new tools for your job. You’d not turn it down. Done a good job for us but it’s Barnsley. What did you expect to happen?

@charliec_18: Unfortunately this is the reality of being a Barnsley fan. Any success and we get ripped apart every time 😭. Hard to see how we will ever move to next level. Last season was the chance. Just wonder how many gunna follow ismael #barnsleyfc

@RichDowle: Was expecting it, can’t blame him wish him well and hopefully we get another decent one in. Personal I’ve been happy with last 3 managers

@JasonStevo11: Rubbish for Barnsley that they gave it a right go last year and could of definitely made play-offs this year if he’d of stayed and they added 1 or 2 more experienced players

@stanley_co: One season can we please try and not sell or get rid of staff / players to try and build on what we have. @BarnsleyFC beyond a joke starting a fresh every year!

@scfcdavies: Quite gutted for Barnsley. Hopefully they can get a decent appointment and put up another playoff push next season.

@CadWMC: Announce Chris Wilder and overlapping center backs

@bfcalex21: Wow. It hurts.

@woodiebfc: And the revolving door keep on spinning.

@CWRyder: Gutted. Thanks for the wonderful memories. All the best, Val

@WilkinsonJed: Was always gonna happen clubs a business run in a specific manner using a specific model

@Matty_Ox10: Get your appeal in lads!

@DowleBFC: Absolutely gutted at this. We all knew he wouldn’t be here long, but I hoped we’d have had him for half a season back in Oakwell. All the best @valerien_ismael, what a season you gave us big man!

@Scotty_Avfc: Massive step down for the bloke. What is he doing!

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