West Brom have appointed Sam Allardyce as their new head coach.
The former England boss has signed an 18-month contract, which includes a break clause at the end of the season if the Albion are relegated.
Allardyce, in his first managerial role since being sacked by Everton in 2018, replaces Slaven Bilic after he was dismissed on Wednesday following West Brom’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Tuesday night.
West Brom sporting and technical director Luke Dowling said: “In Sam we have a man who has a proven Premier League pedigree with a track record of improving every club he has managed.
“We believe and, more importantly, Sam believes we have a group of players that have the quality needed to give the club its best chance of Premier League survival.”
The Baggies have struggled on their return to the Premier League this season, winning just once – against bottom club Sheffield United. They remain second bottom of the table, but are only two points behind 17th-place Burnley.
Allardyce sees the job as an ideal opportunity for him to return to football after more than two and a half years away, and is confident he can keep Albion in the Premier League.
The former England manager is currently still at his home in the North West, but he will need to undergo a coronavirus test before he can travel to the Midlands and enter West Brom’s secure eco-bubble.
