West Brom sack Hammond and replace him with Terraneo
Terraneo will help to find a new manager and Sporting Director for the Baggies
Written by Simon Austin — April 13, 2018
WEST BROM have sacked Technical Director Nick Hammond and replaced him with Italian consultant Giuliano Terraneo.
Hammond joined from Reading in April 2016 and was key in appointing both Tony Pulis and then Alan Pardew as managers. He was also in charge of player recruitment and spent more than £40 million on transfers during the summer, including the record £15m purchase of Oliver Burke from Leipzig.
However, he has paid the price for the club’s dismal performance in the Premier League this season. The Baggies could be relegated on Sunday if they lose to Manchester United at Old Trafford and other results do not go their way.
Terraneo joins as a ‘technical consultant’ on an initial six-month contract and will help to find the club’s next manager - as well as a permanent Sporting Director. Pardew was sacked as manager at the start of the month and first-team coach Darren Moore is in caretaker charge of the side.
CEO Mark Jenkins said: "Giuliano joins us in what we all acknowledge will be a very important close season. He will assist in the recruitment of a new head coach and the re-structure of the squad.
“In the event of our losing Premier League status, it will be a squad we will want to compete strongly for promotion back to the top tier. Giuliano will assist in the recruitment long-term of a new Sporting and Technical Director and he will also be involved in the complete review of the recruitment department."
Terraneo, 64, was most recently Sporting Director of Fenerbahce, where he helped to sign former Nani and Robin van Persie. He also held similar roles at Monza, Lazio and Inter Milan.
Terraneo said: "I am pleased to be able to accept the opportunity to help the club and its owners in the work ahead.
"West Bromwich Albion is a club with its own personality and it is important that everyone we recruit wants to work to that."
Hammond joined the Baggies after 20 years at Reading, where he built a stellar reputation. He was Academy Director there for three years, before becoming Director of Football in 2003. At various points he was linked with moves to big clubs including Arsenal.
Jenkins said: "We would like to place on record our gratitude for Nick's efforts during his two years in the role and wish him every success for his future."
Hammond added: "West Bromwich Albion are a great football club which I was honoured to be a part of, great people, great supporters. I wish them every success going forward as I move on to future projects."
