Before Middlesbrough, Tony Pulis’ last three jobs as manager were with Crystal Palace, Stoke and West Brom. They are now all in the bottom three.
Tony Pulis can proudly say that during nine full seasons in the Premier League his teams were never relegated despite often being tipped to do so.
Yet the three sides that Pulis managed before his current job at Middlesbrough – Crystal Palace, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion – all find themselves in the drop zone currently.
The Welshman was sacked by the latter in November with the Baggies in 17th place and replaced by Alan Pardew, who has since taken them to 20th and eight points from safety.
During his five years with Stoke in the top flight of English football after getting them promoted from the Championship in 2008, Pulis never finished lower than 14th. They are currently 19th.
The 60-year-old was named the Premier League manager of the year in 2013/14 while at Palace, taking over in the November with them rock bottom and finishing the campaign in 11th.
West Brom fans may have become somewhat disenchanted with Pulis and his management style, but it is hard to believe that they – or the Potteries or Eagles – would be in the trouble they are currently in if the Boro boss was in charge.
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