Editing West Bromwich Albion F.C. (section)

==History==
{{main|History of West Bromwich Albion F.C.}}
{{for|a statistical breakdown by season|List of West Bromwich Albion F.C. seasons}}
{{for|the club's record in Europe|West Bromwich Albion F.C. in European football}}

===Early years (1878–1950)===
[[File:Aston villa west bromwich 1887 final.jpg|thumb|right|West Bromwich Albion competing in the 1887 FA Cup Final]]
The club was founded as '''West Bromwich Strollers''' in 1878 by workers from [[Salter Housewares|George Salter's Spring Works]] in West Bromwich, in the [[Black Country]].{{Ref label|FormationDate|A|}}<ref name="Early years">McOwan pp. 7–10.</ref> They were renamed West Bromwich Albion in 1880, becoming the first team to adopt the ''[[Albion]]'' suffix; Albion was a district of West Bromwich where some of the players lived or worked, close to what is today [[Greets Green]].<ref name="Early years"/> The club joined the Birmingham & District Football Association in 1881 and became eligible for their first competition, the [[Birmingham Senior Cup|Birmingham Cup]]. They reached the quarter-finals, beating several longer-established clubs on the way. In 1883, Albion won their first trophy, the [[Staffordshire Senior Cup|Staffordshire Cup]]. Albion joined [[the Football Association]] in the same year; this enabled them to enter the FA Cup for the first time in the 1883–84 season.<ref>McOwan pp. 13–14.</ref> In 1885 the club turned professional,<ref name="In the record book">{{cite web |title=In the record book |url=http://www.wba.co.uk/stats/in_the_record_book/ |url-status=dead |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C. |date=2 February 2012 |access-date=7 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606052353/https://www.wba.co.uk/stats/in_the_record_book/ |archive-date=6 June 2017}}</ref> and in [[1886 FA Cup Final|1886]] the team reached the FA Cup final for the first time, losing 2–0 to [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] in a replay. They reached the final again in [[1887 FA Cup Final|1887]], but lost 2–0 to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]. In [[1888 FA Cup Final|1888]] the team won the trophy for the first time, beating strong favourites [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] 2–1 in the final.<ref>McOwan p. 20.</ref> As FA Cup winners, they qualified to play in a [[Football World Championship]] game against [[Scottish Cup]] winners [[Renton F.C.|Renton]], which ended in a 4–1 defeat.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite web |title=A Sporting Nation – Renton Crowned World Champions |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0008/ |url-status=live |publisher=BBC |access-date=25 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804214053/http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0008/ |archive-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>

[[File:West Bromwich Albion team 1888.jpg|thumb|right|The Albion team of 1888, FA Cup winners and Football League founder members]]

In March 1888, [[William McGregor (football)|William McGregor]] wrote to what he considered to be the top five English teams, including Albion, informing them of his intention to form an association of clubs that would play each other home and away each season. Thus when the [[Football League]] started later that year, Albion became one of the twelve founder members.<ref>McOwan pp. 19–21.</ref> Albion's second FA Cup success came in [[1892 FA Cup Final|1892]], beating Aston Villa 3–0. They met Villa again in the [[1895 FA Cup Final|1895]] final, but lost 1–0. The team suffered relegation to Division Two in 1900–01, their first season at [[The Hawthorns]].<ref>McOwan p. 30.</ref> They were promoted as champions the following season but relegated again in 1903–04.<ref>McOwan p. 32.</ref> The club won the Division Two championship once more in 1910–11, and the following season reached another [[1912 FA Cup Final|FA Cup Final]], where they were defeated by [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] in a replay.<ref>McOwan pp. 36–37.</ref>

Albion won the Football League title in [[1919–20 Football League|1919–20]] for the only time in their history following the end of [[World War I]], their totals of 104 goals and 60 points both breaking the previous league records.<ref>McOwan p. 42.</ref> The team finished as Division One runners-up in [[1924–25 Football League|1924–25]], narrowly losing out to [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|Huddersfield Town]], but were relegated in 1926–27.<ref>McOwan p. 45.</ref> In 1930–31, they won promotion as well as the [[1931 FA Cup Final|FA Cup]], beating [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham]]<!--They weren't Birmingham City until 1943--> 2–1 in the final.<ref>McOwan pp. 50–51.</ref> The "double" of winning the FA Cup and promotion has not been achieved before or since.<ref>Matthews (2007) p. 23.</ref> Albion reached the final again in [[1935 FA Cup Final|1935]], losing to [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]], but were relegated three years later.<ref>McOwan pp. 53–55.</ref> They gained promotion in 1948–49,<ref>McOwan p. 58.</ref> and there followed the club's longest unbroken spell in the top flight of English football, a total of 24 years.<ref>{{cite web
| title = West Bromwich Albion Football Club History
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/sport/clubs/baggies/history.shtml
| publisher = BBC
| access-date = 18 November 2007
| archive-date = 9 April 2006
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060409080924/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/sport/clubs/baggies/history.shtml
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title = West Bromwich Albion
| url = https://www.fchd.info/W-BROMWA.HTM
| publisher = Football Club History Database
| access-date = 19 November 2007
| archive-date = 12 January 2018
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180112214800/http://fchd.info/W-BROMWA.HTM
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

===Success and decline (1950–1992)===
[[File:1954 FA Cup memorabilia.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Memorabilia from the [[1954 FA Cup Final]]]]
In 1953–54, Albion came close to being the first team in the 20th century to win the [[Double (association football)|League and Cup double]]. They succeeded in winning the [[1954 FA Cup Final|FA Cup]], beating Preston North End 3–2, but injuries and a loss of form towards the end of the season meant that they finished as runners-up to fierce rivals [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] in the league.<ref>McOwan pp. 67–68.</ref> Nonetheless, Albion became known for their brand of fluent, attacking football, with the 1953–54 side being hailed as the "Team of the Century". One national newspaper went so far as to suggest that the team be chosen ''en masse'' to represent [[England national football team|England]] at the [[1954 FIFA World Cup]] finals.<ref>{{Cite news
 | last=Wilson
 | first=Peter
 | title=Let 'Team of Century' play for England in World Cup
 | newspaper=[[Daily Mirror]]
 | date = 17 March 1954
 | page = 15
 }}</ref> They remained one of the top English sides for the remainder of the decade, reaching the semi-final of the 1957 FA Cup and achieving three consecutive top five finishes in Division One between 1957–58 and 1959–60.

Although their league form was less impressive during the 1960s, the second half of the decade saw West Brom establish a reputation as a successful cup side. Albion entered the Football League Cup for the first time in 1965–66 and, under manager [[Jimmy Hagan]], won [[1966 Football League Cup Final|the final]] by defeating [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] 5–3 on aggregate. That was the last [[two-legged]] final and, the following year, Albion reached the [[1967 Football League Cup Final|final]] again, the first played at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]]. They lost 3–2 to Third Division [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] after being 2–0 up at half-time.<ref>McOwan pp. 87–88.</ref> Albion's cup form continued under Hagan's successor [[Alan Ashman]]. He guided the club to their last major trophy to date, the [[1968 FA Cup Final|1968 FA Cup]], when they beat [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in [[extra time]] thanks to a single goal from [[Jeff Astle]].<ref>McOwan pp. 94–96.</ref> Albion reached the FA Cup semi-final and [[European Cup Winners Cup]] quarter-final in [[1968–69 European Cup Winners' Cup|1969]], and were defeated 2–1 by [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] in the [[1970 Football League Cup Final|1970 League Cup Final]].<ref>McOwan pp. 97–99.</ref> [[File:The Three Degrees statue - New Square, West Bromwich (48488490306).jpg|thumb|upright|right|Statue of ''the Three Degrees'' by [[Graham Ibbeson]], in [[West Bromwich]]]]

The club were less successful during the reign of [[Don Howe]], and were relegated to Division Two at the end of 1972–73,<ref>McOwan p. 105.</ref> but gained promotion three years later under the guidance of player-manager [[Johnny Giles]].<ref>McOwan pp. 113–114.</ref> Under [[Ron Atkinson]], Albion reached the 1978 FA Cup semi-final but lost to [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]].<ref>McOwan p. 120.</ref> In May of that year, Albion became the first English professional team to play in China, going unbeaten on their five-game trip.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCvLrMQHLJ8 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211116/HCvLrMQHLJ8| archive-date=2021-11-16 | url-status=live|title=West Bromwich Albion in China 1978 | date=17 March 2011|publisher=YouTube |access-date=17 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://wildeastfootball.net/2017/01/football-diplomacy-west-broms-1978-tour-of-china/|title=A trumpet-playing panda and half-time ice cream: West Brom's 1978 tour of China|date=13 January 2017|newspaper=Wild East Football|language=en-GB|access-date=25 January 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202104518/https://wildeastfootball.net/2017/01/football-diplomacy-west-broms-1978-tour-of-china/|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[1978–79 Football League|1978–79]], the team finished third in Division One, their highest placing for over 20 years, and also reached the [[1978–79 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] quarter-final, where they were defeated by [[Red Star Belgrade]].<ref>McOwan pp. 124–127.</ref> The team around this time was notable for simultaneously fielding three black players: [[Cyrille Regis]], [[Laurie Cunningham]] and [[Brendon Batson]]; and is considered to be an integral part of the acceptance of black footballers in the English leagues.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-19077873|title=West Brom's 'Three Degrees' to be honoured by statue|work=BBC News |date=August 2012 |access-date=21 September 2019|archive-date=21 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921165219/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-19077873|url-status=live}}</ref> In his second spell as manager, [[Ronnie Allen]] guided the team to both domestic cup semi-finals in 1981–82.<ref>McOwan pp. 136–138.</ref> The mid-1980s saw the start of Albion's longest and deepest decline. They were relegated in 1985–86 with the worst record in the club's history,<ref>McOwan p. 144.</ref> beginning a period of 16 years outside the top flight. Five years later, the club were relegated to the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] for the first and only time.<ref>McOwan p. 154.</ref>

===Recent years (1992–present)===
[[File:WestBromwichAlbionFC League Performance.svg|thumb|300px|left|Chart of historic table positions of West Bromwich Albion in the Football League]]
Albion had spent the majority of their history in the top-flight of English football, but when the [[Premier League]] was founded in 1992 the club found themselves in the third tier, which had been renamed [[Football League Second Division|Division Two]]. In 1992–93, Albion finished fourth and entered the [[playoffs|play-offs]] for the first time. Albion's first appearance at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] for over 20 years – and their last at the original stadium – saw them beat [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] 3–0 to return to the second level – now renamed the [[Football League First Division|First Division]].<ref>McOwan pp. 158–159.</ref> Manager [[Osvaldo Ardiles|Ossie Ardiles]] then joined [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], however, and a succession of managers over the next few seasons saw Albion consolidate their Division One status without  mounting a serious promotion challenge.
[[File:WBA The Great Escape.jpg|thumb|right|Crowd scenes following ''The Great Escape'', [[2004–05 West Bromwich Albion F.C. season|15 May 2005]]. Fans enter the pitch after the club survived relegation having been in last place on the final day of the season.]]
The appointment of [[Gary Megson]] in March 2000 heralded an upturn in the club's fortunes. Megson guided Albion to Division One safety in [[1999–2000 in English football|1999–2000]], and to the play-offs a year later. He went on to lead the club to promotion to the Premier League in [[2001–02 in English football|2001–02]].<ref>{{cite news
| title = Baggies back in big time
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1935828.stm
| work = BBC Sport
| date = 21 April 2002
| access-date = 4 February 2009
| archive-date = 15 December 2003
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20031215051413/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1935828.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> After being relegated in their first Premier League season,<ref>{{cite news
| title = Baggies relegated despite win
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2936479.stm
| work = BBC Sport
| date = 19 April 2003
| access-date = 11 November 2007
| archive-date = 20 April 2003
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030420173321/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2936479.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> they made an immediate return to the top flight in 2003–04.<ref>{{cite news
| title = West Brom 2–0 Bradford
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3634667.stm
| work = BBC Sport
| date = 24 April 2004
| access-date = 11 November 2007
| archive-date = 12 January 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160112233419/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3634667.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> In [[2004–05 Premier League|2004–05]], Megson's successor, former Albion midfielder [[Bryan Robson]], led the team to a last-day "Great Escape", when Albion became the first Premier League club to avoid relegation having been bottom of the table at Christmas, as well as bottom on the final day of the season.{{Ref label|GreatEscape|G|}}<ref>{{cite news
| title = West Brom 2–0 Portsmouth
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/4525119.stm
| work = BBC Sport
| date = 15 May 2005
| access-date = 11 November 2007
| archive-date = 12 August 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220812184914/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/4525119.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> They failed to avoid the drop the following season,<ref>{{cite web
 |title=Albion suffer relegation
 |url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~823497,00.html
 |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.
 |access-date=11 November 2007
|url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511092615/http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10366~823497%2C00.html
 |archive-date=11 May 2008
}}</ref> and Robson was replaced by [[Tony Mowbray]] in October 2006.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Mowbray leaves Hibs for West Brom
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/6043410.stm
| work = BBC Sport
| date = 13 October 2006
| access-date = 1 December 2007
| archive-date = 15 February 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080215112119/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/6043410.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> The club competed in the [[Football League Championship play-offs|Championship play-off]] final at [[Wembley Stadium]] on 28 May 2007, but lost 1–0 to [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]].<ref>{{cite news
| last = Ahmad
| first = Arsalan
| title = Derby 1–0 West Brom
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/6689971.stm
| work = BBC Sport
| date = 28 May 2007
| access-date = 11 November 2007
| archive-date = 21 May 2018
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180521013841/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/6689971.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> The following season, Mowbray led the Baggies to Wembley again, this time in the semi-finals of the [[2007–08 FA Cup|FA Cup]], where they lost 1–0 to [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]].<ref>{{cite news
| last = McKenzie
| first = Andrew
| title = West Brom 0–1 Portsmouth
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7320356.stm
| work = BBC Sport
| date = 5 April 2008
| access-date = 9 April 2008
| archive-date = 12 January 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160112233420/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7320356.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> One month later, Albion were promoted to the Premier League as winners of the Championship,<ref>{{cite news
| title = QPR 0–2 West Brom
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7368623.stm
| work = BBC Sport
| date = 4 May 2008
| access-date = 4 May 2008
| archive-date = 13 May 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080513230555/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7368623.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> but were relegated at the end of the [[2008–09 Premier League|2008–09]] campaign.<ref>{{cite news
| title = West Brom 0–2 Liverpool
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8038300.stm
| work = BBC Sport
| date = 17 May 2008
| access-date = 17 May 2008
| archive-date = 17 May 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090517222200/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8038300.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Mowbray left the club and was replaced by [[Roberto Di Matteo]],<ref>{{cite news
 | title = Di Matteo is new Albion boss
 | url = https://www.expressandstar.com/2009/06/30/di-matteo-is-new-albion-boss/
 | newspaper = Express & Star
 | date = 30 June 2009
| access-date = 30 June 2009
| archive-date = 4 July 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090704024500/http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/06/30/di-matteo-is-new-albion-boss/
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref> who led the club back to the Premier League at the first attempt,<ref>{{cite news
 | first = Marc
 | last = Vesty
 | title = Doncaster 2 – 3 West Brom
 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8607467.stm
 | work = BBC Sport
 | date = 10 April 2010
 | access-date = 10 April 2010
 | archive-date = 20 June 2017
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170620112329/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8607467.stm
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref> but was dismissed in February 2011 and replaced by [[Roy Hodgson]].<ref>{{cite news
 | title = Roy Hodgson named new manager of West Brom
 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/9391291.stm
 | work = BBC Sport
 | date = 11 February 2011
 | access-date = 25 April 2011
 | archive-date = 12 January 2016
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160112211926/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/9391291.stm
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref>

Hodgson guided Albion to an 11th-place finish for the [[2010–11 Premier League|2010–11]] season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1|title=Premier League 2010/11|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=21 September 2019|archive-date=31 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731183311/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1|url-status=live}}</ref> Then followed an eight-season continuous run in the [[Premier League]]. It included an 8th-place finish in [[2012–13 Premier League|2012–13]] under [[Steve Clarke]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1159|title=Premier League 2012/13|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=21 September 2019|archive-date=22 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422014820/https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1159|url-status=live}}</ref> and 10th-place finishes under Roy Hodgson in [[2011–12 Premier League|2011–12]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=939|title=Premier League 2011/12|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=21 September 2019|archive-date=21 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421184716/https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=939|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Tony Pulis]] in [[2016–17 Premier League|2016–17]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1501 |title=Premier League 2016/17 |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=21 September 2019 |archive-date=28 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828050827/http://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1501 |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2016, it was announced that long-term owner [[Jeremy Peace]] had sold the club to a Chinese investment group headed up by [[Guochuan Lai|Lai Guochuan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=West Bromwich Albion to be sold to Chinese investment group|work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36983933|access-date=5 August 2016|archive-date=5 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805080322/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36983933|url-status=live}}</ref> By this time, the club had begun to fall into a state of torpor, and were relegated at the end of the [[2017–18 Premier League|2017–18]] season, ending their eight-year Premier League stay.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44046183 |title=West Brom relegated from Premier League after Southampton beat Swanea |work=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2018 |access-date=9 May 2018 |archive-date=8 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508210824/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44046183 |url-status=live }}</ref> Pulis<ref>{{cite news|title=West Brom sack Tony Pulis as manager after owner joins fans in losing patience|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/20/west-brom-sack-tony-pulis-manager|access-date=20 November 2017|work=The Guardian|date=20 November 2017|archive-date=20 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120102116/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/20/west-brom-sack-tony-pulis-manager|url-status=live}}</ref> and his replacement [[Alan Pardew]] were both dismissed during the season. Albion finished fourth in their first season back in the Championship under the management of [[Darren Moore]], losing the Championship play-off semi-final on penalties.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48182254|title=Aston Villa beat West Bromwich Albion to reach Championship play-off final|work=BBC Sport|date=14 May 2019|access-date=25 December 2019|archive-date=14 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514220300/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48182254|url-status=live}}</ref> 

[[Slaven Bilić]] took over as manager in June 2019,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48621629|title=Slaven Bilic: West Bromwich Albion name ex-West Ham manager as head coach|work=BBC Sport |date=13 June 2019|access-date=18 June 2019|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126060114/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48621629|url-status=live}}</ref> and led Albion to automatic promotion back to the Premier League during the [[2019–20 EFL Championship|2019–20]] season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53412768 |title=West Bromwich Albion 2–2 Queens Park Rangers |website=BBC Sport |date=22 July 2020 |access-date=23 July 2020 |archive-date=23 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723151806/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53412768 |url-status=live }}</ref> Back in the Premier League, Bilić was controversially sacked on 16 December 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55253670 |title=Slaven Bilic: West Brom manager sacked after 18 months in charge |website=BBC Sport |date=16 December 2020 |access-date=16 December 2020 |archive-date=13 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513100421/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55253670 |url-status=live }}</ref> with [[Sam Allardyce]] named as his replacement the same day.<ref>{{Cite web|date=16 December 2020|title=Sam Allardyce: West Brom appoint former England boss to replace Slaven Bilic|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55330288|access-date=16 December 2020|website=BBC Sport|archive-date=9 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209100101/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55330288|url-status=live}}</ref> After Albion were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the [[2020–21 Premier League|2020–21]] season, Allardyce resigned from his position.<ref>{{cite news |title=A statement from Sam Allardyce |url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/statement-sam-allardyce |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C. |date=19 May 2021 |access-date=24 June 2021 |archive-date=19 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519213553/https://www.wba.co.uk/news/statement-sam-allardyce |url-status=live }}</ref> The club endured disappointing results back in the Championship during the tenures of [[Valérien Ismaël]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Albion appoint Valérien Ismaël as Head Coach |url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/albion-appoint-valerien-ismael-head-coach |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C. |date=24 June 2021 |access-date=24 June 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624153208/https://www.wba.co.uk/news/albion-appoint-valerien-ismael-head-coach |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=West Brom part company with boss Ismael|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60149753|access-date=4 February 2022|archive-date=3 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203220940/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60149753|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Steve Bruce]], who left the club in the relegation places in the [[2022–23 West Bromwich Albion F.C. season|2022–23]] season.<ref>{{Cite news|title=West Brom appoint Bruce as manager|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60238539|access-date=4 February 2022|archive-date=3 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203163229/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60238539|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=West Brom sack Steve Bruce after poor start to the season|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/10/steve-bruce-sacked-by-west-brom-after-poor-start-to-the-season|access-date=10 October 2022|archive-date=10 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010094001/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/10/steve-bruce-sacked-by-west-brom-after-poor-start-to-the-season|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Carlos Corberán]] was named as successor on 25 October 2022.<ref>{{cite news|title=Carlos Corberán Appointed Albion Head Coach|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/carlos-corberan-appointed-albion-head-coach|access-date=26 October 2022|publisher=West Bromwich Albion FC|date=25 October 2022|archive-date=26 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026001027/https://www.wba.co.uk/news/carlos-corberan-appointed-albion-head-coach|url-status=live}}</ref> He guided Albion to a 5th-place finish and the play-off semi-finals at the end of the [[2023–24 EFL Championship|2023–24 season]].

In February 2024, the English Football League approved a takeover of the club by American entrepreneur [[Shilen Patel]].<ref name="BBC-16Feb2024"/>