''Still makes me proud': Tony Mowbray on first West Brom spell as he makes sensational Albion return

The 61-year-old made a sensational return to The Hawthorns to take over from Carlos Corberan - almost 16 years since he departed the club for Celtic.

Mowbray took Albion to Wembley on two occasions during his memorable first stint at the club - and his free scoring side scooped the Championship title back in the 2007/08.

For many Albion fans, that campaign and that team is right up there with some of the very best sides seen at The Hawthorns, and as he returns to the club, Mowbray is still held in huge regard by the Baggies faithful.

The returning Albion boss comes back to club for a second time as manager, or you could argue it is his third time back at the club.

In between his first spell and then being re-appointed this week, Mowbray has made trips back to the club for functions and was in the dugout in September 2022, when he managed one of the sides in Chris Brunt and James Morrison's clash of the legends game.

Following that return Mowbray gave a fascinating insight in his time at the club, and the proud memories he still holds from his three year stint in the West Midlands.

Speaking to the Express & Star back in 2022, he recalled those times, the challenges he faced and how his first 'saunter' into English management has aided him during his career.

He said: "I had an amazing time here to be honest.

"I started at Hibs and this was my first saunter and effort at management in the bigger leagues lets say.

"I inherited some experienced footballers, one or two difficult footballers.

"At Hibs we had a lot of kids, but I came here and there was John Hartson, Chris Perry, Ronnie Wallwork, those types of players and it was a good test for me.

"They tested me, questioned me on why did I do this and that and it was a great learning curve for me.

"In the first year we got beat by Derby in the play-offs, then made changes as contracts ran out and brought in the likes of Brunt, Morrison, Texeira and people like that, and we had a great season and won the league.

"We went to the Premier League and it was a special time for me.

"My thoughts of West Brom is the stadium being full and bouncing all the time, they were happy days.

"In the Premier League year it was difficult, but we had great days.

"We beat Tottenham here, and they were good days, we played good football along the way, and people still want to talk about the seasons we were here and that is nice.

"The supporters appreciate the football they saw in those seasons, and that still makes me proud."

Back in 2022, Mowbray had just took over at Sunderland, and went on to guide the Black Cats to the play-offs before being surprisingly axed.

Following that, he went on to manage  Birmingham City for a short spell before stepping down after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

After the Brunt and Morrison clash in 2022, Mowbray detailed the process he goes through when he takes over at a club, and how he looks at a number of factors off the pitch that aids him in setting up his teams.

And as he prepares for a second spell in The Hawthorns dugout, he knows all to well about the history of the club and what the supporters want to see.

He said: "When you think of West Brom and the brand of football they are built on, it is Laurie Cunningham, Batson, great players.

"When I go to any football club I try and analyse the history, what the supporters are about, whether it is a working class area, and I try and give them attacking, goalscoring football, and they appreciated that here."