Exclusive: Liverpool coach in contention to be new West Brom manager

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Liverpool first-team coach John Heitinga is a leading contender to be the new West Brom manager, sources have told Football Insider.

West Brom are searching for a new head coach after Carlos Corberan officially completed his move to La Liga outfit Valencia on Christmas Day.

Heitinga’s Premier League experience and his progressive style of management makes him an attractive option for West Brom as they look at potential options to keep their bid for promotion on track.

Valencia, Corberan’s hometown club, are four points from safety, sitting second-bottom of La LIga and have turned to him to succeed Ruben Baraja.

Heitinga has impressed in his role at Liverpool having joined the club in the summer as part of Arne Slot’s revamped coaching staff.

The 41-year-old has played a key role in Liverpool’s success so far this season, with Slot full of praise for his fellow Dutchman after the Reds boss was banned from the touchline for their Carabao Cup quarter-final win at Southampton.

“John Heitinga is here with me for the first half of the season and I couldn’t have wished for more, noted Slot. "A very, if I say talented I don’t rate him high enough because he’s more than that.

“He’s been a head coach before, still young but grew into our staff from the start in a good manner and has the same idea about football – that’s why I chose him.”

West Brom want Liverpool coach to replace Carlos Corberan

Heitinga, who is keen to take up a management role, is highly regarded in coaching circles, having worked his way up from the Ajax academy to the top job in their first team.

In January 2023, Heitinga stepped into the role of interim Ajax head coach following the departure of Alfred Schruder and helped to turn around the club’s season – winning 11 of their final 16 matches.

The former Netherlands international, who holds the UEFA Pro Licence coaching badge, joined West Ham in September 2023 to work under his former Everton manager David Moyes and gain some experience coaching in the Premier League.

It is his experience learning in the Premier League under two top managers which has pushed him towards the top of the Baggies’ managerial shortlist.

Albion currently sit seventh in the Championship, outside of the playoff places on goal difference, with just less than half of the season played.

They are determined to secure their place in the playoffs come the end of the season to have another shot at promotion after losing in the semi-final against Southampton last year.

In other news, Everton plot move to sign West Brom star Tom Fellows.

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