West Bromwich Albion: Tony Mowbray returns to Hawthorns as boss

Analysis by Steve Hermon from BBC Radio WM

This is a truly emotional return for one of the most respected men in English football. The man they call “Mogga.”

It was only eleven months ago that Mowbray was forced to step down as Birmingham City manager for health reasons, having already won three of his first six league games in charge.

Without him, the Blues were relegated to the first division. By this time Mowbray had already resigned completely before telling BBC Tees that he had undergone bowel cancer surgery.

But he also expressed his keen desire to return to work in the same interview – and his reappointment is full of nostalgia for Albion fans, who fondly remember the team’s positive style of play under him at the Hawthorns.

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

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

After one season in the top flight, relegation followed, after which Mowbray moved to Celtic in 2009.

Now he returns after five further spells as a coach at his hometown club Middlesbrough, Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Blues.

They say never to go back, but you can’t deny the feel-good factor this will bring to one of your favorite football homes.

He’s one of the nice guys in the game, but he’s also an experienced manager who knows everything about this league and what it takes to compete at the top.

Only time will tell if this heartwarming story also has a fairytale ending.