Roberto Di Matteo believes he has the right backroom team behind him as he bids to turn West Bromwich Albion into promotion challengers this season.
When predecessor Tony Mowbray walked out on Albion he took his assistants Mark Venus and Peter Grant with him to Celtic, and Albion were left not only looking for Mowbray’s replacement but for a new assistant manager and first team coach.
However, by recruiting Di Matteo they also recruited a ready-made team as the Italian brought with him assistant head coach Eddie Newton and head of sports science Ade Mafe, a former Olympic athlete.
To aid continuity, reserve team manager Michael Appleton was rewarded for his good work in recent years by being promoted to first team coach, and Di Matteo is excited by his new team.
“Eddie and Ade are very important,” he said. “We work as a team and we know each other very well.
“We are also looking forward to working with Michael. He is joining the first team management.
“He has been here a long time and I haven’t known him long but he seems to be a good guy. He knows the club and the players and I am sure he will be a valuable asset for us.”
Former Baggies player, Appleton finished last season as reserves and Academy under-18s coach and gained his UEFA Pro License in March.
Albion signed Appleton, who started his career at Manchester United as a player, from Preston in January 2001 and he joined the Albion coaching staff when he was forced to retire from playing in November 2003 due to a serious knee injury he sustained in training two years earlier.
He started out coaching the under-14s in Albion’s Centre of Excellence and spent the following season working as development coach to all the age groups after the club attained academy status.
When Craig Shakespeare was promoted to reserves coach in 2006 he stepped into his boots as under-18s coach for two seasons, and when Shakespeare departed last summer to join Leicester City as assistant manager, Appleton took on the dual role of reserves and academy under-18s coach.
Meanwhile, Di Matteo can’t wait to experience the atmosphere of a full and fired up Hawthorns for the first time.
The new Albion head coach has never played or managed at The Hawthorns in his illustrious career but he was impressed with what he saw on television last season when the Albion fans gave their side incredible support after the defeat to Liverpool, which confirmed their relegation to the Championship.
Now Di Matteo wants to experience that same fully-charged atmosphere as Albion go all out for an instant return to the Premier League.
“I saw the fans last season when they were relegated and they were unbelievable,” said the 39-year-old Italian.
“I have only been in West Bromwich a few days but I have already met a few supporters and they have been magnificent to me. I am sure we will have a good relationship.
“I don’t think I have ever played against Albion as a player, and I haven’t experienced The Hawthorns, so I am looking forward to it.”
