The 59-year-old Welshman has held down managerial roles at Bournemouth, Gillingham, Bristol City, Portsmouth, Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle, Crystal Palace and West Brom.
West Brom manager Tony Pulis
It’s hard to remember a time before we would see Tony Pulis marching up and down a touchline in his distinctive tracksuit, cap and white trainers combination, but what the Welshman lacks in fashion sense, he more than makes up for in defensive solidity. Perhaps best known for his 10 years at Stoke City in two separate spells, Pulis’ dynamic and direct style of play hasn’t won everyone over, but it has certainly been effective.
Stoke were noted for their unusually high success rates from long throws in their first season in the Premier League under Pulis, and both Crystal Palace and West Brom have succeeded under the former Bournemouth man by keeping it tight at the back and winning points often despite seeing little of the ball.
Pulis won the Premier League Manager of the Year award for keeping Crystal Palace in the Premier League in 2013-14, and has twice been named Manager of the Month, once at Palace, and once at West Brom. His combined XI looks unsurprisingly solid, with a rigid back four and a robust, tough-tackling midfield. Here is our combined Tony Pulis XI:
Ben Foster
Baggies goalkeeper Ben Foster
There were a couple of candidates between the sticks here, from Asmir Begovic to Julian Speroni, but it is Ben Foster who gets the nod. Pulis managed Foster at Stoke City as a youngster, prior to his move to Manchester United, although he never made at first team appearance. At West Brom though, Foster is a regular. The eight-time capped England international has played 135 Premier League games for the Baggies, twice being named the supporters’ Player of the Year.
Joel Ward
There is a little less luxury at right-back, but Joel Ward is a very credible candidate, having been an integral figure for Pulis at Crystal Palace, when the 59-year-old looked to bring some stability to the struggling Eagles. The versatile Englishman can play anywhere at the back and in defensive midfield, but looks best at right-back, and that’s where he’ll play in this XI.
Ryan Shawcross
An absolute stalwart at Stoke City for almost a decade now, Ryan Shawcross has epitomised everything that has been so good about the Potters. In 382 appearances for the Staffordshire side, Shawcross has scored 23 goals from centre-back, helped the team to promotion, cemented their Premier League status and won the club’s Player of the Year award in 2013-14. All in all, he can consider himself a little unfortunate to have won just a solitary England cap.
Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans finds the back of the net for West Bromwich Albion
Signing Jonny Evans from Manchester United for West Bromwich Albion has proved a masterstroke by Tony Pulis. The Northern Irish international has been indomitable at the back for the Baggies. A three-time Premier League winner, Evans has now made 65 appearances for West Brom, and was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal last summer.
Danny Higginbotham
Retired ex-Gibraltar international Danny Higginbotham is the fourth former Manchester United player in this XI, and we’ve only had five players, perhaps we are stumbling upon Pulis’ success! Higginbotham had two spells at Stoke, the first from 2006 to 2007 and the second from 2008 to 2013. Solid, dependable and an excellent professional the left-back rarely let Pulis down at Stoke City.
Steven N’Zonzi
In defensive midfield is quite possibly the most talented player in this entire XI. Some people have been surprised by Steven N’Zonzi’s success at Sevilla which has seen him be talked about as one of the top midfielders in La Liga, but not Stoke City fans, they recognised his exceptional qualities long ago. The Frenchman was Stoke’s Player of the Year in 2015, before making the £7 million switch to Spain, and has since won the Europa League with Sevilla.
Nigel Quashie
Nigel Quashie in action for Queens Park Rangers
A number of central midfielders from Liam Lawrence to Mile Jedinak could make a case for themselves in this XI, but breaking the West Brom-Stoke City axis of this team in the middle of the park is Nigel Quashie. A tough-tackling midfielder who was highly-regarded by just about every manager he ever played under, Quashie played under Pulis at Portsmouth. Harry Redknapp, Bryan Robson and Berti Vogts have all talked about what a quality player the former Scotland international was, and he won 14 caps for his country.
Darren Fletcher
Partnering Quashie in a three-man central midfield is Darren Fletcher. Yes, another former Manchester United man. A really important player for Pulis at West Brom over the last two-and-a-half years, Fletcher will be hard to replace this summer. The 2008 Champions League winner was West Brom’s Player of the Year for 2016 but signed a two-year deal at Stoke City last week.
Yannick Bolasie
For all the solidity and professionalism, this team still needs some flair, and Yannick Bolasie can provide that in bucketloads. The Congolese international gave Pulis’ desperate Palace side some much-needed inspiration from the left flank as they battled to stave off relegation to the Championship. The first Crystal Palace player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League, Bolasie joined Everton for £25 million last summer.
Nacer Chadli
Nacer Chadli is one of Pulis’ latest gems
On the opposing flank is a midfielder who whether played out wide or through the middle has been a very handy player for West Brom. Brought in from Tottenham Hotspur for £13 million, the big Belgian scored 5 goals in 29 games in his first season at the Hawthorns. Trust Tony Pulis to find a 6″2′ winger you might say, but 27-year-old has proved a smart piece of business.
Peter Crouch
It was a tough choice up top. Ade Akinbiyi, Ricardo Fuller, Kenwyne Jones, Dwight Gayle, Saido Berahino and Salomon Rondon could all stake a claim, but ultimately it is Peter Crouch who gets the nod, after all, this team was lacking a bit of height… Crouch was signed by Pulis at Stoke for £10 million from Tottenham Hotspur, and he has since scored 54 goals in 201 games for the Potters, becoming the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer of headed goals.
Do you agree with our combined Tony Pulis XI?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
