@WBAFCofficial: 1/4 Albion are delighted to announce they have appointed Pepe Mel as their new Head Coach
@WBAFCofficial: 2/4 The 50-year-old Spaniard has signed an 18-month contract
@WBAFCofficial: 3/4 Richard Garlick: Pepe is a forward thinking coach whose teams are renowned for playing an attractive, positive style of football
@chrislepkowski: Mel's first game will be against EFC a week on Monday. Will watch Saints game from stand
PUBLISHED
19:50 9th January 2014
Spaniard pens 18-month deal
ALBION are delighted to announce they have appointed Pepe Mel as their new Head Coach.
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 five games ago.
Mel arrives at The Hawthorns with 14 years’ coaching experience in Spanish football, having steered previous club Real Betis to a seventh-place finish in La Liga last term and qualification for the Europa League.
Madrid-born Mel will be supported by Downing and Dean Kiely, who will continue in their present roles as Assistant Head Coach and Goalkeeping Coach respectively.
Sporting & Technical Director, Richard Garlick, said: “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.”
Downing, who has conducted this week’s pre-match preparations, will remain in charge for Saturday’s trip to 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.
Garlick added: “The Board is extremely grateful to Keith, the coaching staff and players for their efforts over the past month, which has yielded six points from four unbeaten league games.
“Keith will have an important role to play in supporting Pepe as he coaches in England for the first time.”
Read more at http://www.wba.co.uk/news/article/albion-appoint-mel-as-head-coach-1285111.aspx#3EjUDZHFmdgwmLm3.99
@BaggiesFacts: Pepe Mel achieved promotion to La Liga in his 1st season at R. Betis (10/11). He took them to 7th in Spain's top league by the end of 12/13.
Josh.
Fancy giving us the low down again on Mr Mel.
For anyone that has forgot
@chrislepkowski: #wba seem to have got their 'first choice' after all - they just took the scenic route to end up back there, a few wks after his first talks
They've been crap since he left. Good manager, wonder if he'll follow the trend of ex la liga managers doing well in the PL ( Laudrup, Pellegrini, Pochentinno)
@chrislepkowski: Spanish journalist's text reads: "You will enjoy Mel's football." #wba
Pepe Mel and Real Betis is very similar to Clarke with Albion. They had a good start last season and were the surprise package but after xmas there form dipped just like Albion and were then very inconsistent but still managed to get into the Europa League. Betis had a bad start this season and Mel unfortunately paid the price for it. He was a 2nd division manager (Except half a season with Tenerife) before he went to Betis but he got them promoted in his first season there and then in the second season back in la liga (Finished 12th in the first season) they got into the Europa League. As happens a lot though, just like Freiburg in Germany, the extra burden of European games and loads of ins and outs means that the team struggled.
He has been recently linked with West Ham so maybe we could tempt him here instead but whether he knows English or if he will have learn it like Pochettino had to, I don't know. He used a mix of 442 and 4231 with Betis with it mainly 442 in 1st season in La Liga, mix of 442 and 4231 in 2nd season and 4231 this season. I think he could be a good option for us because he is experienced with not having that much money to spend so that may help him at Albion.
2011-2012 - http://www.football-lineups.com/team/Rea...12/fixture
2012-2013 - http://www.football-lineups.com/team/Rea...13/fixture
2013-2014 - http://www.football-lineups.com/team/Rea...14/fixture
His sacking at Betis coincided with money problems and the selling of all their best players
Sorry for the copy and paste job of my comment off the other site but everything relevant is there in the above.
@nigelpearson: Good luck Pepe Mel at #wba - good pedigree and likes to play on front foot, important at Hawthorns in particular. Good with media I'm told.
@spurspanyol: Pepe Mel is a decent manager. Betis have been very unlucky this season and his record isn’t half bad. Good appointment for WBA.
Real Betis destroying Barcelona 3 years ago - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRWelRRa91w
im not sure about his name
sounds like some sort vagi-cream
reckon he can remedy our leaking defence
I have seen the longer footage of the game and the 2nd goal is very good. They pass it patiently around the back and then knock it around Barca, the winger runs very quickly and directly at the defence and then slips in Molina.
Just want to see Uncs post ......
Reckon everyone was turning us down
However as CL states we got our first choice in the end
thank god thought Dean Saunders was on the way down !!!!
JH you stole my article
Sorry pal, didn't see the underneath post in my excitement.
Pepe Mel's Barmy army
https://twitter.com/pepe_mel/status/361155101404057601/photo/1
Watched that Betis game vs Barca, they were impressive, better than they look on those highlights
Still, they should have hired me like you did on football manager. I've got you top of the league by 4 points 11 games in next season
@chewingthecoca: congratulations #WBA - not only have you got yourselves a fine coach but a fine man also http://t.co/rBmKG2vbw3
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Pepe Mel is new wba boss.
Page 1 of 4
posted on 9/1/14
@WBAFCofficial: 1/4 Albion are delighted to announce they have appointed Pepe Mel as their new Head Coach
posted on 9/1/14
@WBAFCofficial: 2/4 The 50-year-old Spaniard has signed an 18-month contract
posted on 9/1/14
@WBAFCofficial: 3/4 Richard Garlick: Pepe is a forward thinking coach whose teams are renowned for playing an attractive, positive style of football
posted on 9/1/14
@chrislepkowski: Mel's first game will be against EFC a week on Monday. Will watch Saints game from stand
posted on 9/1/14
PUBLISHED
19:50 9th January 2014
Spaniard pens 18-month deal
ALBION are delighted to announce they have appointed Pepe Mel as their new Head Coach.
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 five games ago.
Mel arrives at The Hawthorns with 14 years’ coaching experience in Spanish football, having steered previous club Real Betis to a seventh-place finish in La Liga last term and qualification for the Europa League.
Madrid-born Mel will be supported by Downing and Dean Kiely, who will continue in their present roles as Assistant Head Coach and Goalkeeping Coach respectively.
Sporting & Technical Director, Richard Garlick, said: “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.”
Downing, who has conducted this week’s pre-match preparations, will remain in charge for Saturday’s trip to 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.
Garlick added: “The Board is extremely grateful to Keith, the coaching staff and players for their efforts over the past month, which has yielded six points from four unbeaten league games.
“Keith will have an important role to play in supporting Pepe as he coaches in England for the first time.”
Read more at http://www.wba.co.uk/news/article/albion-appoint-mel-as-head-coach-1285111.aspx#3EjUDZHFmdgwmLm3.99
posted on 9/1/14
Welcome Senor Mel.
posted on 9/1/14
@BaggiesFacts: Pepe Mel achieved promotion to La Liga in his 1st season at R. Betis (10/11). He took them to 7th in Spain's top league by the end of 12/13.
posted on 9/1/14
Josh.
Fancy giving us the low down again on Mr Mel.
For anyone that has forgot
posted on 9/1/14
@chrislepkowski: #wba seem to have got their 'first choice' after all - they just took the scenic route to end up back there, a few wks after his first talks
posted on 9/1/14
They've been crap since he left. Good manager, wonder if he'll follow the trend of ex la liga managers doing well in the PL ( Laudrup, Pellegrini, Pochentinno)
posted on 9/1/14
@chrislepkowski: Spanish journalist's text reads: "You will enjoy Mel's football." #wba
posted on 9/1/14
Pepe Mel and Real Betis is very similar to Clarke with Albion. They had a good start last season and were the surprise package but after xmas there form dipped just like Albion and were then very inconsistent but still managed to get into the Europa League. Betis had a bad start this season and Mel unfortunately paid the price for it. He was a 2nd division manager (Except half a season with Tenerife) before he went to Betis but he got them promoted in his first season there and then in the second season back in la liga (Finished 12th in the first season) they got into the Europa League. As happens a lot though, just like Freiburg in Germany, the extra burden of European games and loads of ins and outs means that the team struggled.
He has been recently linked with West Ham so maybe we could tempt him here instead but whether he knows English or if he will have learn it like Pochettino had to, I don't know. He used a mix of 442 and 4231 with Betis with it mainly 442 in 1st season in La Liga, mix of 442 and 4231 in 2nd season and 4231 this season. I think he could be a good option for us because he is experienced with not having that much money to spend so that may help him at Albion.
2011-2012 - http://www.football-lineups.com/team/Rea...12/fixture
2012-2013 - http://www.football-lineups.com/team/Rea...13/fixture
2013-2014 - http://www.football-lineups.com/team/Rea...14/fixture
posted on 9/1/14
His sacking at Betis coincided with money problems and the selling of all their best players
posted on 9/1/14
Sorry for the copy and paste job of my comment off the other site but everything relevant is there in the above.
posted on 9/1/14
@nigelpearson: Good luck Pepe Mel at #wba - good pedigree and likes to play on front foot, important at Hawthorns in particular. Good with media I'm told.
posted on 9/1/14
@spurspanyol: Pepe Mel is a decent manager. Betis have been very unlucky this season and his record isn’t half bad. Good appointment for WBA.
posted on 9/1/14
Real Betis destroying Barcelona 3 years ago - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRWelRRa91w
posted on 9/1/14
im not sure about his name
sounds like some sort vagi-cream
reckon he can remedy our leaking defence
posted on 9/1/14
I have seen the longer footage of the game and the 2nd goal is very good. They pass it patiently around the back and then knock it around Barca, the winger runs very quickly and directly at the defence and then slips in Molina.
posted on 9/1/14
posted on 9/1/14
Just want to see Uncs post ......
Reckon everyone was turning us down
However as CL states we got our first choice in the end
thank god thought Dean Saunders was on the way down !!!!
JH you stole my article
posted on 9/1/14
Sorry pal, didn't see the underneath post in my excitement.
Pepe Mel's Barmy army
posted on 9/1/14
https://twitter.com/pepe_mel/status/361155101404057601/photo/1
posted on 9/1/14
Watched that Betis game vs Barca, they were impressive, better than they look on those highlights
Still, they should have hired me like you did on football manager. I've got you top of the league by 4 points 11 games in next season
posted on 9/1/14
@chewingthecoca: congratulations #WBA - not only have you got yourselves a fine coach but a fine man also http://t.co/rBmKG2vbw3
Page 1 of 4