Meet the opposition | West Bromwich Albion
As Swansea City prepare to face West Bromwich Albion, we take a closer look at the Baggies.
WHAT'S THEIR STORY?
Established in 1878 as West Bromwich Albion by workers from Salter’s Spring Works, the Baggies were one of the 12 founding members of the Football League and have surpassed 5,000 EFL fixtures as a club.
Albion have spent much of their history in the top-flight of English football, winning their only league title during the 1919-20 season, whilst enjoying success in the FA Cup on no less than five occasions.
During the 21st century they have had spells in the Premier League, including an eight-year stint which was ended by relegation in 2018.
Six managers in six seasons followed and a return to the top-flight in 2020 proved shortlived as they dropped back to the second tier after one season.
Last season saw the Baggies finish ninth in the Championship after the departure of manager Steve Bruce midway through the season, and the introduction of Carlos Corberan. They are again in play-off contention this term.
HOW'S THEIR FORM?
Coming on strong after an up and down period. West Brom had drawn just one of their 11 Championship fixtures prior to Boxing Day, winning six and losing the other four. They have since suffered defeat at Middlesbrough before beating Norwich and Leeds United.
They have won four of their last eight games on their travels, keeping clean sheets in each of the quartet of victories.
WHO'S THE GAFFER?
Carlos Corberán. Appointed in October 2022 with West Brom sat in the relegation zone, the Spaniard lost his opening match against Sheffield United before leading the Baggies to a remarkable run of nine wins in 10 league outings which put them sixth by the middle of January.
They remained firmly in the play-off picture for the remainder of the season but missed out in the final run-in. He has them in the hunt for the top six once again this season.
Corberán was a product of Valencia’s academy but, at the age of 23 - after failing to break into the first team and with only a handful of Spanish fourth-tier appearances under his belt - he hung up his boots in order to pursue a career in coaching.
He began as a highly-regarded fitness coach working with Villareal and Al-Ittihad Club before taking his first head coach role in Cyprus. He first moved to the UK in 2017 as the manager of Leeds United Under-23s and was promoted to the first-team staff by Marcelo Bielsa just over a year later.
After several seasons with Leeds, he took on the head coach role at Huddersfield Town. He spent two seasons there guiding the Terriers to the play-offs during his second term. He exited the Yorkshire club and took a short-lived role at Olympiacos before arriving at The Hawthorns.
WHO'S THE CAPTAIN?
Jed Wallace. The former Millwall midfielder featured in all 50 of the Baggies competitive fixtures last season in his first campaign at The Hawthorns, and has missed just two league games this term.
He came through the youth ranks at Portsmouth and progressed all the way to first-team level, where he scored 30 goals in 121 appearances in all competitions.
From the south-coast he went to Wolves, where he spent two seasons before his move to Millwall, having already enjoyed two successful loan spells with the London Club.
Having already helped them win the League One play-offs, he continued to be an integral and influential figure in the Championship, regularly being a reliable contributor in terms of goals and assists.
However, his spell in south London ended when he moved to West Brom after his contract expired.
WHO ARE THE KEY MEN?
Influential midfielder Okay Yokuslu's importance to the Baggies was underlined when his absence during a key period last season played a part in them missing out on the play-offs.
He has remained a key figure this season, and has featured in all but one of West Brom's Championship games this time around.
The Türkey international is a key part of Corberán’s side, anchoring the midfield, and is also capable of chipping in with a goal.
Yokuslu averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.12 in league matches last season, the highest of any West Brom player.
The Baggies top scorer last season was Brandon Thomas-Asante, and the forward is again leading the way with eight goals so far in the 2023-24 campaign.
The Midlands outfit bought the striker from League Two Salford City at the end of the summer 2022 transfer window, and he scored on his debut in a 1-1 draw against Burnley. He’d already bagged five goals in seven games for the Ammies before making the switch to the second tier.
He’s scored 17 goals in 59 appearances for West Brom.
Winger Grady Diangana has been one of the main creators for the Baggies, scoring five goals and setting up another four.
The pacy, athletic wide man has been at The Hawthorns since the summer of 2020, joining in an £18million deal from West Ham following a successful initial loan during which he helped the Baggies secure promotion under Slaven Bilic.
Diangana had come through the ranks with the Hammers, joining their academy setup at the age of 12 and going on to make 17 senior league appearances.
He has a solitary DR Congo cap to his name.
