Swiss manager Raphael Wicky edges closer to succeeding Carlos Corberán at West Brom

West Bromwich Albion is set to name Raphael Wicky as the new West Brom manager, which is a key decision in their pursuit of promotion from the Championship. The 47-year-old former Swiss international has emerged as the club’s top choice to succeed Carlos Corberán, who left on Christmas Eve to manage Valencia.

Wicky, a former Basel and Young Boys manager, impressed in talks with Albion officials, including sporting director Andrew Nestor, who spearheaded the recruitment process. His appointment is expected to be finalised within days, pending successful contract negotiations.

The Swiss manager boasts an extensive resume, having earned 75 caps for Switzerland during his playing career. He transitioned into coaching in 2009, working with clubs like Thun, Servette, and Basel in his home country. In 2017, Wicky took on his first managerial role with Basel, though his tenure ended after a year. He later managed the United States Under-17 team before returning to Switzerland to lead Young Boys, where he clinched a league and cup double in 2023. Despite that success, Wicky was dismissed in March 2024.

West Brom’s search for a new manager began in earnest after Corberán’s departure. Under caretaker manager Chris Brunt, Albion managed five points from a possible 12 in the league but currently sit sixth in the Championship table. With promotion ambitions still alive, the club prioritised a thorough recruitment process, opting for patience over haste.

Nestor, leveraging his European connections from his time at Bologna, oversaw interviews with three candidates this week. Former Manchester United assistant René Hake was also in the running, but Wicky impressed enough to become the preferred candidate.

West Brom fans will be eager to see how Wicky adapts to the challenges of the Championship, a notoriously competitive league. His ability to galvanise a squad will be tested as Albion seeks to maintain its playoff position and aim for promotion to the Premier League.

The appointment signals a commitment to a fresh approach under Nestor’s leadership. Despite speculation about homegrown options like John Eustace and Luke Williams, the club deliberately cast a wide net during the recruitment process. Wicky’s European pedigree and track record of success in Switzerland ultimately tipped the scales in his favour.

Albion’s next challenge comes this weekend as they face Bournemouth in the FA Cup third round. While Brunt will likely remain in charge for that match, fans and players alike will have one eye on Wicky’s anticipated arrival. His immediate priority will be stabilising the team and instilling his philosophy as the club enters a crucial phase of the season.

With West Brom striving to return to the Premier League, Raphael Wicky’s impending appointment represents a bold gamble. If he can replicate the success he achieved in Switzerland, the Baggies’ gamble may just pay off.