West Bromwich Albion have confirmed the appointment of Tony Pulis on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
Albion are delighted to confirm appointment of Premier League Manager of the Year Tony Pulis as new Head Coach #wba pic.twitter.com/KoV4MNLbsv
- West Bromwich Albion (@WBAFCofficial) January 1, 2015
Pulis will take up his new role after Thursday's match away to West Ham, with his first game in charge due to be Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie against Gateshead.
The former Stoke boss is the reigning Premier League manager of the year after steering Crystal Palace well clear of relegation trouble in the second half of last season, and West Brom are hoping for more of the same as they sit one point above the drop zone following a dismal run under the sacked Alan Irvine.
Pulis told the official West Brom website: "I'm absolutely delighted to accept the job and I do so with a simple but important message for the Albion fans and everyone at the club.
"Every successful club is built on unity and that is what I shall strive to help bring to Albion. We need everyone together from top to bottom -- the supporters, all the staff, the players, everyone who has an interest in the club's welfare.
"With that, we can go forward together and hopefully take this club up the Premier League."
Pulis has never suffered relegation in his career, a statistic which was reinforced last season with the job he did at Palace.
The Welshman took over at Selhurst Park with the Eagles having taken just four points from 11 matches, six points adrift from safety, but he oversaw a remarkable turnaround which ended with Palace finishing 11th.
However, he walked out of Selhurst Park in August reportedly after a dispute over transfer policy.
He has accepted the title of head coach rather than manager in West Brom's continental-style structure, but will reportedly retain final say over transfers.
Technical director Terry Burton added: "We are delighted to secure a man of Tony's calibre and proven ability. He made it clear that this position excited him and that he was eager to get back into the business of winning Premier League points -- and there are few who know how to do it better."