Ged Scott and Steve Hermon

BBC Sport England

West Bromwich Albion have reappointed Tony Mowbray as their boss – almost 16 years after he left The Hawthorns for Celtic in June 2009.

The 61-year-old returns to management for the first time since February 2024, when he had to step away as Birmingham City manager to undergo treatment for what was later revealed to be bowel cancer.

Now, just days on from being given the all-clear following his health scare, Mowbray has signed a two-and-a half-year deal.

It brings an end to Albion’s 24-day wait for a new boss following the departure of previous head coach Carlos Corberan on 24 December to join his boyhood club Valencia.

Since then, the Baggies have had a three-man caretaker team in charge. It was led by Chris Brunt, who was one of Mowbray’s first signings, in June 2007.

Mowbray had arrived in the Black Country the previous October from Hibernian to succeed Baggies legend Bryan Robson.

They were close to making an appointment last week, only for former Swiss international Raphael Wicky to turn the job down when he could not bring in his preferred backroom team.

In a season of great change in the second tier, especially in the Midlands, where Coventry City’s Frank Lampard is now the longest-serving Championship manager, Albion have already made their fair share of headlines.

Despite managing only two goals in their first seven home games, they topped the table under Corberan in mid-September. But, although they have now found their goal touch at The Hawthorns with 11 in five games, they have won only four of their past 20 Championship matches and lie seventh before Saturday’s home game with Mark Robins’ Stoke City.

Mowbray, who has again brought in regular right-hand man Mark Venus as assistant manager, will sit tight and leave the backroom team in charge to take on Stoke.

But, when he takes full charge next week, he will do so with still two weeks of the transfer window to go, still 19 games left, and his team right in the play-off picture.

This is a real emotional return for one of the most well-respected men in English football. The man they call ‘Mogga’.

Just 11 months ago, having already won three of his first six league games in charge, Mowbray had to step away as boss of Birmingham City for health reasons.

Without him, Blues went on to be relegated to League One, by which time Mowbray had stood down completely before then revealing to BBC Tees that he had undergone surgery for bowel cancer.

But he also stated in that same interview his ultimate desire to return to work – and his reappointment is filled with nostalgia for Albion fans who fondly remember the team’s positive style of play under him at The Hawthorns.

It was an eventful time in the club’s modern history too. Two Wembley appearances, both 1-0 defeats, by Derby County in the Championship play-off final in May 2007, then by Portsmouth in the FA Cup semi-final 11 months later.

But, only a month later, Mowbray’s Albion won promotion back to the Premier League, pipping this weekend’s visitors Stoke for the title.

Relegation followed after one season in the top flight, after which Mowbray left in 2009 for Celtic.

Now he returns via five more managerial stints, with his home-town club Middlesbrough, Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Blues.

They say you should never go back but you cannot deny the feel-good factor this will generate back at one of his favourite ‘homes’ of football.

He is one of football’s nice guys but he is also an experienced manager, who knows all about this division and what it takes to compete near the top.

Only time will tell if this heart-warming story also has a fairytale ending.

Tony Mowbray’s return to management gives him the chance to match Gary Megson’s feat of being the only Albion boss to win promotion to the Premier League (in 2002 and 2004) twice.

Currently, Mowbray’s 2008 success puts him on a par with Roberto Di Matteo (2010) and Slaven Bilic (2020).

And the man who will makes way for him once Saturday’s game is over, former Northern Ireland international Brunt, could not be happier.

“It’s brilliant to see him fit and well and ready to go again,” Brunt told BBC Radio WM. “He’s had a lot of success, especially at this level.

“He’s a great guy and I’ve got a lot of time for him. The general perception of him is that he’s well liked – and why wouldn’t you?

“Whenever I’ve seen him since he left Albion, he’s always been the sort to come over and have a chat or, if you leave him a message, he’ll always get back to you.

“With the passion he has for the game, after what he’s been through over the last year, it’s be great to see him back doing what he loves doing. I’m looking forward to hopefully leaving him in a good place to kick off the rest of the season.”

Albion chairman Shilen Patel added: “While I know he is proud of his previous time with the Albion, his desire to achieve new success shone through from our first meeting. Tony has a wealth of experience across British football and shares our vision for the club. He truly cares about bringing the best out of players.”

Sporting director Andrew Nestor said: “The playing style he seeks to implement hugely compliments our model and existing squad. Tony has an attacking mentality and a proven track record of improving young and established players.

“This has been a thorough and meticulous process, with a well-researched shortlist and clear criteria for what we would seek in a head coach.

“The work carried out over the last three weeks was designed to ensure we had the ideal fit and the right staff for the club. We spoke with Tony in depth early on, and as soon as he became available this week, we proceeded with bringing him back to The Hawthorns.”

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