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New West Brom manager Pepe Mel. Nigel French/EMPICS Sport
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West Brom announce Pepe Mel as new boss with Dean Kiely staying as goalkeeping coach

The former Real Betis coach succeeds Steve Clarke who was sacked in December.

WEST BROM HAVE tonight announced that Pepe Mel is their new manager with former Republic of Ireland international Dean Kiely to stay on as the club’s goalkeeping coach.

Mel was in charge of Real Betis last year, steering them to a seventh-place finish in La Liga last term and qualification for the Europa League.

The 50-year-old Spaniard has signed an 18-month contract and takes over the reins from Keith Downing, who took charge of the team in a caretaker capacity after Steve Clarke was sacked.

And Mel will be supported in his new role by Downing and Kiely, who will stay on in their present roles as assistant manager and goalkeeping coach respectively.

Downing will remain in charge for Saturday’s Premier League trip to face Southampton while Mel observes his new team from the stands.

Mel’s first game at the helm will be the televised home match against Everton on Monday week.

On the official West Bromwich Albion website, the club’s Sporting & Technical Director Richard Garlick welcomed the new manager to the club.

“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 No.1 candidate. He is a forward thinking coach whose teams are renowned for playing an attractive and positive style of football.”

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