Sam Allardyce has been appointed as West Brom manager following the departure of Slaven Bilic, the Premier League club confirmed on Wednesday.
Allardyce has signed an 18-month deal with the Baggies, and will bring in his long serving second-in-command Sammy Lee as assistant manager.
The 66-year-old has been out of management since he was dismissed by Everton in 2018.
The news comes in the immediate aftermath of Bilic’s sacking, which was confirmed by the club on Wednesday following a commendable 1-1 draw against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Allardyce’s 18-month deal is understood to contain a release clause should West Brom fail to ensure top flight survival.
The former Everton and Bolton boss is expected to be on the manager’s bench for Sunday’s local derby against Dean Smith’s Aston Villa.
In Allardyce the Baggies have turned to a survival expert, with the former England manager having gained a reputation as the man clubs turn to when in need of rapidly turning around their fortunes.
As is his usual remit, Allardyce will be tasked with keeping the newly-promoted Baggies in the Premier League.
The draw at the Etihad took them to seven points from 13 games since they came up from the Championship. They are currently two points off safety.
West Brom become Allardyce’s 13th job as a football manager and his eighth in the top flight.
Baggies sporting and technical director, Luke Dowling told the club’s official website: ”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.”
Allardyce has never been relegated from the Premier League during his time as a manager, and has never left a club in the midst of a relegation dogfight.
The 66-year-old has taken charge of Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and most recently Everton in the top flight of English football.
