Shropshire Star

West Brom 100 club: The 14 managers who have clocked up a century at the Baggies

Sunday's victory over Hull marked Carlos Corberan's 100th game in charge of Albion - and saw him join an exclusive club.

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Corberan became the first Baggies boss since Tony Pulis to reach the milestone - despite being the seventh permanent manager since the Welshman's departure back in 2017.

Reaching the number saw him join just a list of 13 other former Albion bosses who have reach the 100 club.

Over the course of Albion's history, Albion have had 47 permanent managers and a handful of caretakers who have taken charge - but only a small number of them have reached three figures.

The list includes a cricketer, a man whose playing career was curtailed when a bus ran over his foot in Wolverhampton, and one who went on to manage Ajax and Barcelona.

Here is a look at the company Corberan has after joining the Albion 100 club.

Frank Haven: 1896 to 1902 - 214 games

As well as being one of the only people to take charge of Albion for not just 100 games, but more than 200 games, Haven is etched into Albion history.

He was a cricketer for Warwickshire Club & Ground and Smethwick, being appointed as secretary at Albion. In those days the team manager had the job title of secretary.

According to records, he was also the club's general financial secretary and helped to oversee the move to The Hawthorns in 1900, before being asked to resign over a disagreement with the club's directors.

He died in 1905 at the age of just 32.

Fred Everiss: 1902 to 1948 - 1,520

Everiss served as Albion boss for 46 years, making him England's longest serving manager of all time.

He was the Albion secretary-manager right through both World Wars, however, according to records much of his role was administrative, with the job of picking the team going to the directors.

It is stated that Albion did not create a full time manager role until Everiss left in 1948. Upon leaving Albion, he was made a director in 1948 and died in 1953, aged 70.

Fred Everiss was the longest serving manager in the club's history
Fred Everiss was the longest serving manager in the club's history

In total, according to sources, Everiss took charge of 1,520 Albion games, a record that will never be beaten.

And during that time he won a First Division title, two Second Division titles, the FA Cup in 1931 and a Charity Shield.

Jack Smith: 1948 to 1952 - 179

Arthur John Smith, known during his career as Jack, was Albion's first ever non-English manager.

The Welshman enjoyed a playing career that saw him turn out as a full back for Wolves, Bristol Rovers, Swindon and Chelsea.

In the Second World War, Smith was stationed in the West Midlands and guested as a player for Albion, before his career was cut short when a bus ran over his foot during a blackout.

In 1948, he would take over at Albion as manager, before further spells in the dugout with Reading and Hyde United.

Vic Buckingham: 1953 to 1959 - 301

The former Tottenham Hotspur wing half was appointed as Albion boss in 1953, having kicked off his managerial career with Oxford amateur side Pegasus and then Bradford Park Avenue.

Buckingham would go on to become Albion's longest serving post war manager, and aside from Everiss remains the only manager to take charge of 300 or more games.

Vic Buckingham went on to manage Ajax and Barcelona after Albion
Vic Buckingham went on to manage Ajax and Barcelona after Albion

At Albion he won the FA Cup in 1954, and finished second in the First Division. His stock had risen and he moved to Ajax, winning a league title and later winning honours in Barcelona, as well as managing in Greece, where is career ended in 1980.

Jimmy Hagan: 1963 to 1967 - 201

Hagan made his name as a player with Sheffield United, before moving into management with Peterborough United.

He would then move to Albion in 1963, and led the club to a League Cup, before spending the rest of his career managing in Portugal with the likes of Sporting CP, Benfica and Boavista.

Alan Ashman: 1967 to 1971 - 182

The ex-Carlisle United forward became Albion boss after a spell in charge at The Cumbrians.

He led Albion on a series of cup runs, with the club ending up winning the 1968 FA Cup final against Everton.

However, in 1971, he was sacked, and reports state he heard of the news from a waiter while on holiday in Greece.

He then went to manage in Greece with Olympiakos, returning to Carlisle, Workington and Walsall.

Albion manager Alan Ashman keeps a tight grip on the FA Cup
Albion manager Alan Ashman keeps a tight grip on the FA Cup

Don Howe: 1971 to 1975 - 165

The Wolverhampton born right back played 342 times for Albion, before going in to turn out for Arsenal, winning a First Division title and an FA Cup.

He finished his career and took over at Albion - but could not prevent Albion from being relegated to Division Two.

He later went on to manage Galatasaray, Arsenal, QPR and Coventry, was well as working as a coach in a number of roles including with England. 

Ron Atkinson: 1978 to 1981/1987 to 1988 - 212

Atkinson was in charge of arguably one of the best ever Albion sides. Arriving from Cambridge United, Big Ron was a relative unknown.

But in just three years at Albion, he led Albion to the last eight of the UEFA Cup and third in the old First Division. He departed Albion for Manchester United, but in 1988 returned to help them stave off relegation to Division Three.

Atkinson alongside new signings, Gary Owen and Peter Barnes
Atkinson alongside new signings, Gary Owen and Peter Barnes

Atkinson wasn't around for along, as he then joined Atletico Madrid.

Brian Talbot: 1988 to 1991 - 114

A midfielder who made his name for Ipswich and Arsenal, while also being capped by England, he arrived at Albion as a player in 1988 before taking the role of player/manager.

He started well as Albion challenged for promotion - but they collapsed late in the 1988/89 season, and failed to make the play-offs. They then narrowly managed to survive relegation, but the struggles continued in the following campaign.

They were beaten 4-2 in the FA Cup by non-league Woking, one of the worst results in the club's history, and were relegated to the Third Division for the first time ever.

Talbot went on to have spells at a number of clubs after Albion, including Rushden and Diamonds.
Talbot went on to have spells at a number of clubs after Albion, including Rushden and Diamonds.

Talbot went on to manage a handful of EFL clubs, and had two stints in Malta.

Alan Buckley: 1994 to 1997 - 118

Buckley is better known in the West Midlands for two lengthy spells as a player at Walsall, while also having three stints as manager.

From there he took over at Grimsby Town, the first of three spells at the club, and achieved success. After his first spell, he moved to Albion bringing with him a number of players.

Buckley endured a tough spell at Albion, but did bring in the likes of Richard Sneekes
Buckley endured a tough spell at Albion, but did bring in the likes of Richard Sneekes

But he couldn't mount a promotion challenge and was sacked in 1997.

Gary Megson: 2000 to 2004/2017 - 223

Megson has bonified hero status among the supporters for good reason. He is third on the list of managers who have taken charge of the most games.

Arriving in 2000, he steered Albion away from relegation while taking them to the play-off semi-finals the following season.

Then came the 2001/2002 promotion winning campaign - as Megson guided Albion to the Premier League on that famous final day against Crystal Palace.

Despite immediate relegation, they bounced back by winning automatic promotion yet again. Megson was sacked a handful of games into the new Premier League season, but still holds cult like status among the Albion fans.

Megson returned as assistant and then took over as caretaker (AMA)
Megson returned as assistant and then took over as caretaker (AMA)

He returned as number two to Tony Pulis, and served as caretaker boss after the Welshman's sacking.

Tony Mowbray: 2006 to 2009 - 140

Mowbray arrived at Albion after starting his managerial career at Hibs, and followed up a play-off final defeat with one of the club's most memorable campaigns.

Assembling an attractive playing style with some top players, Mowbray took Albion to the Championship title while also reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.

In the Premier League, despite winning plaudits for their style of play, Albion went down and Mowbray left for Celtic that summer.

Tony Mowbray applauds the Albion fans after promotion to the Premier League was all but secured against Southampton.
Tony Mowbray applauds the Albion fans after promotion to the Premier League was all but secured against Southampton.

Tony Pulis: 2015 to 2017 - 121

Brought in to replace Alan Irvine, Pulis went on to lead Albion to 14th and 10th placed finishes.

Despite some supporters being unhappy with the style of play, Pulis did achieve relative success in his first two seasons at the club, and they should have finished well inside the top ten in the 2016/17 season, but for a late collapse.

The following campaign, although starting well, saw Albion slide into the relegation zone. He was sacked, and Albion would go on to appoint two more managers but were ultimately relegated.

Carlos Corberan: 2022 to present - 100

The current boss clocked up his 100th game in charge with a win over Hull at the weekend.

Arriving with Albion in the drop zone, Corberan steered Albion to the cusp of the play-offs, and followed it up by finishing fifth last season.

Beaten by Southampton in the semi-finals, he would then oversee a summer of change as Albion's squad underwent significant work. After a blistering start to the season, they went eight games without a win, but stopped the rot on Sunday.