Eric Ramsay facing West Brom sack? 3 managers Baggies should eye up ASAP ft. ex-Leicester City boss | OneFootball

3 managers West Brom should consider hiring to replace Eric Ramsay, should Shilen Patel decide to sack the 34-year-old.

West Bromwich Albion head coach Eric Ramsay is already under serious pressure, having failed to win any of his opening eight games in charge of the Baggies.

This season has been a horror show for West Brom, who've gone from aspirations of promotion to the Premier League at the start of the season, to nervously looking over their shoulder at the drop into League One.

The Midlands-based side parted company with head coach Ryan Mason in early January following a tenth straight away defeat, and moved swiftly to replace him with highly-rated Minnesota United chief Ramsay.

The 34-year-old arrived at The Hawthorns off the back of two strong years in the MLS, but it's fair to say he's been given a baptism of fire in the Championship, which has left him already skating on thin ice after just eight league games in charge.

With Ramsay's Baggies future hanging in the balance, Football League World decided to look at three realistic options chairman Shilen Patel should be weighing up if he pulls the trigger on his latest hire.

Slaven Bilic

Kicking off the list with a hugely popular figure at The Hawthorns, Slaven Bilic is still adored by West Brom fans to this day, having overseen a successful spell at the club which resulted in promotion to the Premier League back in 2020.

Since his sacking by Albion in December 2020, the Croatian has had spells in the dugout with Beijing Guoan, Watford, and Al-Fateh, but has been out of work since August 2024, having departed the Saudi Pro League side by mutual consent.

As of February 2026, Bilic finds himself dabbling in punditry, but has been linked with a return to management. He reportedly snubbed the opportunity to take the helm at Blackburn Rovers recently, following the dismissal of Valerien Ismael.

However, should the opportunity arise to go back to West Brom, you can't help but feel that Bilic wouldn't pass that up. It would be an appointment that simply makes sense for all parties involved, and would put the club in the best possible stead to avoid the drop.

The 57-year-old is highly experienced in English football, and is widely known for his ability to motivate his group of players. He would implement a clear identity in a squad that looks lost for ideas, and certainly galvanize the fanbase during a tough time.

A lot has changed at The Hawthorns since his last stint, but Bilic would likely relish this challenge with the backing of the new ownership, and would be a really sensible choice that could hugely lift morale during this uncertain period for the club.

Marti Cifuentes

Another free agent option with a solid CV in the Championship that Albion could turn to is former Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City boss Marti Cifuentes, who was sacked by the Foxes in late January.

Despite a strong stint at QPR, his time at Leicester didn't go as planned, and the financially-troubled club were left with no choice but to part ways with the Spaniard, before they were hit with a points deduction which left them in the relegation zone.

However, his work at Loftus Road is what should have him on West Brom's radar. Cifuentes arrived at Loftus Road in late 2023 with no EFL experience, and guided the R's to a comfortable mid-table finish, having taken charge whilst the club were in the relegation zone.

The 43-year-old is known for his possession-based, proactive style of football, which could help refine West Brom's identity over time. He has also faced the pressure of a relegation battle before, so he won't be walking into a situation he isn't prepared for.

Cifuentes is also an adaptable manager, who doesn't stick to one rigid system. This is an ideal trait in the Championship, given the different opposition he'll be facing every week, which will require his side to find different ways to win games.

Whilst someone like Bilic may present a better short-term option, Cifuentes would be a better appointment if Patel is looking for long-term contingency, rather than short-term safety.

Michael Skubala

This is probably the least realistic of the three options we've presented in this list, but that doesn't mean that Michael Skubala isn't someone who West Brom could pursue should they move on from Ramsay.

The 43-year-old is doing a sensational job at Lincoln City, who are currently the only side giving Cardiff City a run for their money in the League One title race.

Skubala has been with the Imps since 2023, and has made steady progress in his time there. This has culminated in him building a side which looks set to shock the rest of League One, and earn promotion to the Championship.

It may be unlikely that the former Leeds United caretaker manager will leave Sincil Bank in the middle of a promotion fight, but if West Brom wanted him enough, you simply can't rule that possibility out.

Still only young at 43, Skubala has mastered the art of getting the best out of a group of players who aren't necessarily the best in terms of quality, but work well as a team by playing to everyone's strengths, and showing great adaptability to find ways to win games.

Despite his lack of experience in the Championship, the Lincoln boss would be a smart appointment who could bring the best out of a struggling squad, whilst also being able to lay the foundations for long-term success.