West Bromwich Albion have hired Carlos Corberan as their new head coach after sacking Steve Bruce. So, where are his last XI with Leeds United’s Under-23s in March 2020 now?
The Baggies dismissed Bruce on October 10 with The Hawthorns outfit in the bottom three of the Championship standings. He had overseen a dire run of just one win in their opening 13 second-tier fixtures this term. Their sole victory came at home to Hull City 5-2 in August.
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Corberan now takes charge in the West Midlands having been without a club since leaving Olympiacos in September. The Greek side sacked the Spaniard just 49 days after hiring the 39-year-old. He had taken over on August 1 after resigning from Huddersfield Town in July.
Huddersfield had reached the Championship play-off final under Corberan last season. But the Terriers fell to a 1-0 loss at Wembley to Nottingham Forest. On-loan talent Levi Colwill of Chelsea diverted the ball into his own net for the only goal of the tie in the 43rd minute.
West Brom have hired Carlos Corberan to replace Steve Bruce as their head coach
West Brom have now announced they have hired Corberan to replace Bruce as their head coach. The Spaniard has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at The Hawthorns and took his first training session on Wednesday. He is still finalising his backroom crew at the club.
U21s boss Richard Beale stood in for Bruce on an interim basis and led West Brom to beat Reading 2-0. But defeats to Bristol City and Millwall see Corberan adopt a side 23rd in the table. The Baggies are also three points from safety after 16 games with the least wins (2).
James Morrison and Gary Walsh assisted Beale during his stint as interim boss. Corberan is now keeping both men on as part of his backroom team. While the former Leeds U23 and Huddersfield boss will make his debut at the helm when West Brom host Sheffield United.
The Blades visit The Hawthorns on Saturday, October 29, looking to revive their promotion hopes. Paul Heckingbottom’s side sit fifth in the standings with 26 points from 16 games – 12 more points than West Brom. But the Bramall Lane club are without a win in six games.
Carlos Corberan will hope to replicate his style developed at Leeds with West Brom
Corberan will hope to replicate his success with Huddersfield at West Brom after taking his high-pressing approach to the Terriers. The Spaniard matured a style under the tutelage of Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds, having worked as the Argentine’s assistant while the U23s boss.
He left the Elland Road set-up after three years to take over the hot seat at Huddersfield in 2020. Corberan also previously worked as the head coach of Cypriot sides Ermis Aradippou and Doxa Katokopias. But his Olympiacos tenure only featured four wins across 11 fixtures.
So now West Brom have hired Corberan as their new head coach, HITC Football looks back at his final XI in charge of Leeds’ U23s before the 2019/20 PL2 campaign was curtailed. His tenure effectively ended following a 1-1 draw away to Barnsley at Oakwell in March 2020…
Elia Caprile (GK): Leeds sold Corberan’s former U23s gem to Bari in July
Leeds sold Corberan’s former U23s goalkeeper Elia Caprile to Serie B side SSC Bari in July. The 21-year-old had proven to be a regular for the Whites’ development side after joining from Chievo’s academy in 2020. But he never broke through to make a senior appearance.
Bryce Hosannah (RB): Wrexham signed the former Leeds prospect in 2021
Bryce Hosannah now plies his trade at National League team Wrexham AFC. He joined the non-league outfit from Leeds in August 2021 following four years in the academy ranks at Elland Road. But the former Crystal Palace prospect never made his senior Whites debut.
Pascal Struijk (CB): Corberan’s former defender is now a key player at Leeds
Pascal Struijk joined Leeds from Ajax’s U19 side in January 2018 and has gone on to make 76 first-team appearances. The 23-year-old also boasts three goals and an assist, while he offers the Whites a versatile defensive presence with outings at left-back and centre-half.
Leif Davis (CB): Ipswich signed the former Leeds prospect in July
Ipswich Town raided Leeds to sign Leif Davis in July for in excess of £1m after he spent last season on loan to AFC Bournemouth. The left-back had moved to Elland Road in 2018 from Morecambe’s academy. But the 22-year-old only progressed to register 14 senior outings.
Barry Douglas (LB): Corberan fielded the Lech Poznan man as an overaged player
Corberan fielded Barry Douglas as an overaged player in what would be his final match in charge of Leeds’ U23s. The 33-year-old needed minutes after a stretch out of Bielsa’s side. He would go on to leave for Lech Poznan in 2021 after a loan spell with Blackburn Rovers.
Oliver Casey (CDM): Blackpool have loaned the defender to Forest Green Rovers
Corberan sought to test Oliver Casey as a holding midfielder against Barnsley’s youth side in March 2020. But the defender’s progress following the Spaniard’s departure stuttered. Blackpool then hired the 21-year-old in 2021 and have loaned him to Forest Green Rovers.
Ian Poveda (RM): Corberan could face his former prospect after West Brom hiring
Leeds have loaned Ian Poveda to Blackpool for the 2022/23 Championship term. He spent last season in the second-tier with Blackburn. But the former England youth gem required surgery for a fracture and ligament damage to his left ankle during his time at Ewood Park.
Jamie Shackleton (CM): Millwall loanee may have played his final game for Leeds
Jamie Shackleton may have already played his final game for Leeds after joining Millwall on loan this summer. London News Online reports his season-long move includes an option to buy the 23-year-old. The Whites product has been a regular for the Lions so far this season.
Mateusz Bogusz (CM): Poland prospect is back in Ibiza on loan from Leeds
Mateusz Bogusz is back in Ibiza for a second season on loan from Leeds this term. The 21-year-old also spent 2021/22 with the La Liga 2 outfit following a temporary spell with UD Logrones. But the Whites’ 2019 arrival from Ruch Chorzow is not a regular for Ibiza so far.
Ezgjan Alioski (LM): Fenerbache have hired the Al-Ahli star for 2022/23
Fenerbahce have hired Ezgjan Alioski on loan for the 2022/23 season to add depth in their wide-left areas. The 30-year-old joined the Super Lig giants just a year after signing for Al-Ahli. He secured a free transfer to the Saudi Arabian outfit following his release by Leeds.
Tyler Roberts (ST): QPR have signed the striker on loan with an option to buy
Queens Park Rangers signed Tyler Roberts on loan from Leeds in July with a £4.5m option to buy the striker. The 23-year-old had set the Whites back £2.5m when joining from West Brom in 2018. But he only progressed to offer nine goals and 10 assists across 108 games.
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