West Bromwich appoint Alan Pardew as coach

West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday appointed Alan Pardew as the English football club's head coach.

"Alan, a former (English) Premier League manager with West Ham, Newcastle and Crystal Palace, has agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract," the club said in a statement.

The 56-year-old, who was named both EPL and LMA Manager of the Year in 2012, was at the training ground on Wednesday to begin his new job which he described as an "exciting opportunity."

The Englishman said: "I'm thrilled with the opportunity Albion have provided and looking forward to getting to work with what I consider to be a talented group of players.

"The immediate challenge will be to get the results we need to pull ourselves up the table. But I'm aware that while I'm joining one of the great, traditional clubs of English football, it is one determined to go forward in the Premier League.

"It's an exciting opportunity to play a part in that ambition."

Pardew will be adding his former assistant at Newcastle, John Carver, to his back room staff at West Bromwich.

--IANS

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