Town legend Tony Mowbray has been confirmed as West Bromwich Albion’s new head coach, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal.
The 61-year-old returns to football having stepped down from his role at Birmingham City this time last year to undergo treatment for bowel cancer, permanently exiting St Andrew’s in May.
Mowbray, who previously managed Albion between 2006 and 2009, leading them to the Championship title in 2007/08, was recently given the all-clear.
He is joined at the Hawthorns by fellow former Blue Mark Venus, assistant at his previous clubs.
The Baggies have been looking for a new boss since Carlos Corberan departed for Valencia on Boxing Day.
"This is a club I’ve got great affection for,” Mowbray told the West Brom official website. "It’s a club I care for, it’s a club I followed before and after my previous time as manager. It’s a club where it’s always been special whenever I returned with other teams.
"It’s a real family football club and that’s why I had the discussions with the ownership. I’m so excited to be walking back through the doors and helping the team.
"I would like to thank chairman Shilen Patel, sporting director Andrew Nestor and all involved in bringing me back for providing me with a second opportunity to manage this great club.
"I like the set-up of the club, I like the people. In my discussions with them they were very humble, there was no arrogance, just good people who want to succeed.
"A lot has changed since my first time here, but the club feels like it’s back on the rise. The one thing I know won’t have changed is the supporters – and I can’t wait to rekindle my excellent relationship with them.
"I’m ready to relish the challenge again. It’s a new challenge. I know I’ve been here before, but it’s a new challenge, a new time, a new era for me at the football club.”
He added: "The first time I was here was a great time and I hope to again assemble a team that plays positive football, providing the fans with great memories of winning football games.
"I hope that now I’ve come back that we can get back to where the supporters, team, club and owners want to be, which is in the Premier League – and that will be our focus.
"There is lots of quality in the squad with a good mix of youth and experience. It’s my job to get the best out of it. I certainly have the same drive and determination to do so.
"We’re going to attack, we’re going to be positive, we’re going to go and play and hopefully get the fans out of their seats and win some games.
"The starting point is a good one, we’re not scrambling to get away from anything. We’ve got a great opportunity and chance to compete towards the top end of the table.”
Regarding his health, he said: "I’ve been given the all-clear from the doctors after scans earlier this week and I’m full of energy, full of vibrancy and ready to go and do what I feel I do best.
"The bottom line for me is that health-wise, I’ve had a tough year. I couldn’t sit here and say it was a good experience to go through, but it’s been a life experience for me.
"There’s been low moments and sad moments with the family, but it’s been an experience that I look back at in my life and I’m incredibly grateful I’ve come through the other side.
"There’ll be no lack of energy from me, I’m ready to go. I’ve had a year of lying in a hospital bed getting driven back and forth twice a week for treatment. I’m full of energy again. People who know me well say that I’m back. Bring it on.”
Mowbray was with Town as a player between 1995 and 2000, scoring the Blues’ first goal in the 4-2 play-off final victory over Barnsley at Wembley in his last game of his career.
He subsequently joined George Burley’s staff as a coach and was caretaker-manager of Town following the Scot’s departure, staying at the club under Joe Royle until taking his first job as a manager, at Hibernian, in the summer of 2004.
Mowbray has also taken charge of two of the other sides he played for, Celtic and Middlesbrough, as well as Blackburn, Coventry and Sunderland before his brief stint with Birmingham, which lasted only just over a month before he was taken ill.