Every Euro 2024 manager ranked by win percentage

With Euro 2024 getting underway a matter of days, final preparations will be being made, with players going that extra mile and managers keeping a watchful eye over their squads and their upcoming opponents.

Ahead of what is likely to be an action-packed tournament, the pressure will be on the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Gareth Southgate and Didier Deschamps to get performances out of their sides. But based on win percentage, they're not the only ones to watch. With that in mind, Football FanCast has ranked every Euro 2024 manager on that very metric, as you can see below.

All information correct as of 12th June 2024.

Euro 2024 tournament guide: Teams, matches, dates, TV channels, odds & more

Football FanCast has put together a guide for all things Euro 2024, with venues, fixtures, tables, stadiums and more all covered here.

ByStephan Georgiou 24 Vincenzo Montella (Turkey) 37.5% win rate

Vincenzo Montella

Appointed

September 2023

Games

8

Wins

3

Draws

2

Losses

3

Looking to make up for Turkey's poor showing at Euro 2020 when they were many fans' dark horses, Vincenzo Montella entered March's international break for Euro 2024 having won all bar one of his four games, before defeats against Hungary and Austria – the latter a heavy 6-1 drubbing.

However, Turkey did earn a commendable draw against Italy, who had thrashed them at the beginning of the previous European Championship, before losing to Poland in their final warm-up match.

Semi-finalists in 2008, Turkey are up against Portugal, Georgia and the Czech Republic in Group F as they face a tough task to reach the last 16.

23 Edward Iordanescu (Romania) 37.5% win rate

Edward Iordanescu for Romania

Appointed

January 2022

Games

24

Wins

9

Draws

9

Losses

6

Up against Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine, Edward Iordanescu will be the man tasked with pulling off an upset in charge of Romania at the Euros in Germany this summer. The manager has a record of 9 wins in 24 during his time in charge of the national team, which is currently the joint-worst of all qualified nations – despite qualifying top of their group ahead of Switzerland.

He faces a tough job this summer, but given the nation's fine qualifying campaign and relatively open group, an upset in Group E could yet be on the cards.

However, two goalless draws against Bulgaria and Liechtenstein will hardly have been the tournament build-up Iordanescu would have been hoping for.

22 Murat Yakin (Switzerland) 44.1% win rate

Murat Yakin for Turkey.

Appointed

August 2021

Games

34

Wins

15

Draws

11

Losses

8

As Switzerland look to make amends for their poor showing in previous tournaments from the team often dubbed the dark horses of a competition, Murat Yakin will be the man in the dugout. The 49-year-old, appointed in August 2021, has 15 wins in an inconsistent spell to date. Yakin will have to guide Switzerland out of Group A against Scotland, Germany and Hungary.

21 Steve Clarke (Scotland) 49.1% win rate

Steve Clarke for Scotland.

Appointed

May 2019

Games

55

Wins

27

Draws

11

Losses

17

Competing in just their fourth Euros in their history, Scotland and Steve Clarke will be up against Germany, Hungary and Switzerland in Group A as they look to advance to the knockout stages for the first time. With Clarke winning just under half of his 55 games in charge, improving that this summer may not be out of the question.

20 Matjaz Kek (Slovenia) 49.1% win rate

Matjaz Kek for Slovenia.

Appointed

November 2018

Games

55

Wins

27

Draws

16

Losses

12

Ahead of what should prove to be a tight Group C up against Serbia, Denmark and England, Slovenia are in good stead to reach the knockout phase in Germany this summer, with Matjaz Kek's record of winning almost half of his matches in charge a boost towards that.

Kek will hope to see that record improve even further on the big stage, particularly after beating Portugal in March. In fact, Slovenia are unbeaten since November 2023.

19 Julian Nagelsmann (Germany) 50% win rate

Bayern's Julian Nagelsmann

Appointed

September 2023

Games

8

Wins

4

Draws

2

Losses

2

After eight games in charge of Germany, Nagelsmann's record has slightly improved the nation's terrible form heading into their home tournament. He has overseen four victories during those games, coming in wins over the United States, France, Netherlands and Greece.

The former Bayern Munich boss has also suffered defeats against Austria and Turkey, whilst also drawing 2-2 against Mexico in an inconsistent start for a talented manager. The pressure will now be on to perform in charge of the host country at the Euros.

18 Willy Sagnol (Georgia) 50% win rate

Appointed

February 2021

Games

34

Wins

17

Draws

5

Losses

12

Former France defender Willy Sagnol has guided Georgia to a first-ever major tournament after beating Greece on penalties in a tense play-off clash in Tbilisi.

Georgia did not have the greatest of qualifying campaigns, but their Nations League performance it what led to their Euro 2024 berth, with Sagnol winning exactly half of his matches in charge since taking over three years ago.

The Crusaders won the only warm-up game away to Montenegro, with Turkey their next assignment.

17 Marco Rossi (Hungary) 50.8% win rate

Marco Rossi for Hungary

Appointed

June 2018

Games

63

Wins

32

Draws

14

Losses

17

After 63 games, Marco Rossi's record as Hungary manager is one he'll be hoping to improve on this summer. With the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai to call on, Hungary could yet cause some upsets up against hosts Germany, as well as Scotland and Switzerland in Group A, especially given Germany's recent record ahead of the tournament.

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Highlights of his time in charge include finishing above Germany and England in the Nations League, where they missed out on a place in the finals by a point, as well as holding Germany and France to draws at Euro 2020.

They were beaten by Ireland ahead of this summer's tournament, but bounced back to defeat Israel as they prepare for their opener against Switzerland.

16 Francesco Calzona (Slovakia) 52.9% win rate

Francesco Calzona.

Appointed

July 2022

Games

17

Wins

9

Draws

4

Losses

4

Slovakia will square off against Belgium, Romania and Ukraine in Germany this summer, where they will hope to upset the favourites and sail through to the knockout stage. In charge of that task will be Francesco Calzona, who has enjoyed a decent record during his two-year stay. So far, that record has included nine wins, four draws and four defeats, along with qualification for a first Euros finals since 2000.

The most recent of those victories included morale-boosting wins over San Marino and Wales, with successive 4-0 scorelines seeing them head into their Group E opener in good spirits.

15 Sylvinho (Albania) 53.8% win rate

Appointed

January 2023

Games

13

Wins

7

Draws

3

Losses

3

Granted, he has only had 13 games in charge of Albania, but Sylvinho boasts an impressive record, having won seven of those games in a solid start to his tenure ahead of Euro 2024 in Germany, where his side will be in Group B with Spain, Italy and Croatia.

Albania topped their qualifying group ahead of fellow qualifiers Czech Republic and Poland.

Liverpool could sign their answer to De Bruyne if they hire Xabi Alonso

Liverpool's defeat against Arsenal on Sunday evening blew the Premier League title race wide open, with Manchester City star Phil Foden's treble at Brentford meaning Pep Guardiola's side will return to the top if they win their game in hand.

Jurgen Klopp will have urged his squad to remain calm, still first-placed at present, advanced in the FA Cup and Europa League and awaiting Chelsea at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final at the end of the month.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

The German is stepping down from his position as manager at the end of the season but will be leaving Liverpool in a great position, revived as contenders at the forefront of the Premier League.

Signing the right replacement will be crucial…

Xabi Alonso is the dream Klopp replacement

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Liverpool are targeting Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso to succeed Klopp in the Anfield dugout, with the Spaniard – key to Liverpool's Champions League triumph of 2005 – working wonders atop the German Bundesliga table.

Now, transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed to GIVEMESPORT that Alonso would be unanimously welcomed back on Merseyside, saying: "There are very few people who support Liverpool, follow Liverpool, have any involvement with Liverpool, that would have a problem with Xabi Alonso being announced as their next manager. So I think it's a no-lose situation to go and give him the job."

Liverpool eye up "special" Xabi Alonso alternative to supercharge Nunez

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ByAngus Sinclair

Spanish reports have also claimed that Alonso's first port of all as Liverpool boss would be to request a swoop for Leverkusen whiz Florian Wirtz, who has a €70m (£60m) price tag.

Liverpool's own Kevin De Bruyne

£60m is no small sum but Liverpool showed their willingness to part such lofty figures for rising stars from the German scene last summer after sealing a £60m swoop for Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig.

Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz.

And what a prospect – if that is even an apt term for such a prodigious 20-year-old in Wirtz – Liverpool would land, already well-versed in Alonso's style and boasting a dynamic skill set that has led teammate Victor Boniface to pronounce him a "magician" on the pitch.

As per FBref, the German ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and passes attempted, the top 13% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 19% for progressive carries per 90.

Florian Wirtz: Similar PL Players

#

Player

Club

1.

Dejan Kulusevski

Tottenham Hotspur

2.

Kevin De Bruyne

Manchester City

3.

Heung-min Son

Tottenham Hotspur

Source: Football Transfers

Given Wirtz's similarities to Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, as displayed above, it's understandable that Alonso would be desperate to arrive at Anfield with the playmaker in tow.

As per Sofascore, Wirtz has been in scintillating showing this season, scoring five goals and supplying eight assists across 20 Bundesliga appearances and completing 85% of his passes, averaging 2.4 key passes, 5.5 ball recoveries and 2.7 dribbles per game.

De Bruyne might have spent the lion's share of the campaign injured on the sidelines but he has returned with his talismanic brilliance intact, posting three assists and a goal from three league outings since picking up the issue on the opening day of the term.

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To elucidate on the semblance in style, De Bruyne ranks among the top 1% of midfielders for goals scored, assists and shot-creating actions and the top 3% for progressive passes per 90 – admittedly, he's the gold standard.

Wirtz would do well to achieve Premier League success that draws comparisons to the Belgian machine, one of the finest and most influential players in the division's history, but if FSG secure Alonso to the dugout, this could become an actuality for the red half of Merseyside.

Everton and Dyche could lose big name player if 777 takeover collapses

Everton's proposed takeover by 777 Partners is facing doubts over passing the relative examination, and now a further blow has potentially been dealt to them.

Will the Everton takeover go through?

The Blues picked up a hugely important win on Saturday evening, battling their way to a 3-1 victory away to Brentford in the Premier League. It was their first three points of the season, following a disappointing start to the 2023/24 campaign, and the hope is that this result kicks them into life moving forward.

Away from the on-field action, there is also plenty of drama happening at the top, with 777 Partners aiming to become the new owners of Everton, bringing an end to the Farhad Moshiri era at Goodison Park.

That is proving to be a real issue at the moment, however, despite an agreement reached regarding the takeover. Reports have suggested that 'doubts persist that 777 Partners, who have come under fire for their running of the other clubs in their stable including Standard Liege and Hertha Berlin, will pass the examination.'

It is a frustrating saga that continues to rumble on, but for the sake of Sean Dyche and his players, not to mention the supporters, it is vital that things are cleared up sooner rather than later.

Everton manager Sean Dyche.

Will Everton lose players if a takeover collapses?

According to The Mirror, Everton face the very real threat of key players leaving the club in the January transfer window, should 777's takeover be blocked and the club's finances take a hit in what would be a 'nightmare scenario' for Dyche.

"Everton could be forced to sell one of their big name players like Jordan Pickford or Amadou Onana in January if the 777 Partners takeover is blocked. Due to a worrying financial situation and with owner Farhad Moshiri not prepared to pump in any more money the Toffees are relying on loans from 777 and MSP Sports Capital to cover mounting monthly losses.

"It’s why Moshiri who has sold his 94 percent stake in the club is anxious that the Premier League, FA and Financial Conduct Authority give the planned take over the green light. But doubts persist that 777 Partners, who have come under fire for their running of the other clubs in their stable including Standard Liege and Hertha Berlin, will pass the examination."

This is an incredibly concerning update for anyone of an Everton persuasion, and it highlights the importance of 777's takeover eventually going through and heralding the start of an exciting new era on Merseyside, especially with a move to a new stadium coming next summer.

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Should the agreement be blocked, however, and the Blues find themselves losing the likes of Jordan Pickford or Amadou Onana, it is easy to envisage them in a Premier League relegation battle once again, as they scrap to avoid spending the first year at their new home in the Championship.

It is clearly essential that Everton don't rush into their takeover, especially if 777 are questionable in the way they have run other football clubs, as the report alludes to, but a change appears to be needed at Goodison, with Moshiri's reign becoming an increasingly unhappy one over the years, leading to protests from some supporters outside the ground.

Tottenham Want "Special" £40m Kulusevski Upgrade

Tottenham Hotspur seem unwilling to slow down in their quest for a revolution this summer, as another report emerges detailing fresh interest…

What's the latest on Harvey Barnes to Tottenham Hotspur?

This latest claim comes from journalist Sami Mokbel, speaking on the Last Word on Spurs podcast about their interest in Leicester City's Harvey Barnes.

Having prised James Maddison from their clutches only earlier this week, it seems Ange Postecoglou now has the £40m winger in his sights once more. Although, it might not prove as straightforward as the aforementioned deal.

The writer stated: "You mention Harvey Barnes there, and there is an interest in Harvey Barnes. But equally, Harvey Barnes has a number of options and while he would be attracted to Tottenham he may look at that and think ‘wait a minute how often am I going to play here?”

"You have Son there, you have Kulusevski there and you have Richarlison there. He may look at that situation and think he may be better off elsewhere."

How good is Harvey Barnes?

Although this may be a dilemma for the one-time England international, he could join safe in the knowledge that he presents a far greater goal threat than both Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison given recent performances.

Given neither the Foxes nor Spurs performed particularly well last season, as the former were relegated and the latter failed to secure European football for the first time since 2010, the respective underperformance of the players can at least be dispassionate and without the bias that a purple patch can bring.

Their most recent campaigns showcase exactly how a player will deal with tough situations. Whilst the former Juventus ace and Brazil international went into hiding, with the latter scoring just one league goal all year, Barnes instead thrived.

Notching an impressive 13 from the wing, with a goal conversion rate of 18% (via Sofascore), his figures far outperform that of the struggling Sweden international. It seems he is finally growing into the claims of journalist Adam Bate from 2019, as he had branded him as "special" and a "huge talent".

Kulusevski even admitted earlier this month: "Of course, I’ve been disappointed personally. After the World Cup, I didn’t think I played well enough."

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Having burst onto the scene with 13 goal contributions in his first 18 Premier League games during his first loan spell, it seems the expectation that he would mimic these figures weighed heavily on the 23-year-old.

Dejan-Kulusevski-Spurs-Tottenham

He would score just twice last season, assisting seven and maintaining an abysmal 5% conversion rate in front of goal, via Sofascore. Even during that aforementioned blistering six-month period, which few would have been able to maintain, his conversion rate of 19% only slightly outperforms the 25-year-old's recent performances.

In an effort to add more cutting edge to his squad, Postecoglou could return to the King Power Stadium to secure Maddison's former teammate and bolster his own ranks further.

Tottenham considering Martinez transfer bid

Tottenham Hotspur are now considering making an offer for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, according to journalist Gaston Edul.

The Lowdown: Martinez eyed

Tottenham’s interest in Martinez stretches back quite some time, with it being reported by journalist Dean Jones back in December that the north London club were ‘looking at’ the Argentine.

There have been a whole host of goalkeepers linked with moves to N17, with Jordan Pickford recently being named as a potential target while Jan Oblak has also been named as a player on Antonio Conte’s list.

And despite the fact Conte is not expected to be at the club beyond the end of this season, it appears Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici are not slowing down as they already plot out new signings for whoever the next boss may be.

The Latest: Edul’s update

According to Edul, Tottenham may have made their minds up about who their first-choice target is to replace Hugo Lloris.

The journalist took to Twitter to claim that Spurs have a ‘specific’ interest in Martinez, and could even make an ‘offer’ for the Villa shot-stopper ‘in the coming weeks’.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed as ‘world-class’ by sections of the media, the 30-year-old substantiated that claim further with his remarkable performances at the World Cup, winning the golden glove.

The former Arsenal man is particularly adept at stopping crosses, ranking in the 99th percentile compared to other goalkeepers in the past year, while his shot-stopping ability was also on show in the World Cup final, making two vital saves from inside the box.

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The only question mark over the 26-time Argentina international is his age, given that he will be 31 early on next season, with Spurs also being linked to the likes of Giorgio Mamardashvili, who could be a more suitable long-term replacement for Lloris at just 22.

However, Martinez is a proven goalkeeper at the top level, and he would still be a viable option between the sticks for at least the next few years.

Arsenal transfer news on Milinkovic-Savic

Transfer expert Dean Jones says that Sergej Milinkovic-Savic not lighting up the World Cup could work in Arsenal’s ‘favour’ in terms of a potential move.

The Lowdown: Arsenal in pole

It has recently been reported that Arsenal are in pole position to sign Milinkovic-Savic, either in January or in the summer.

The Lazio central midfielder seems to be convinced by Mikel Arteta’s project, and so a move to the Emirates Stadium is now possible.

The Latest: Advantage Gunners?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has claimed that Milinkovic-Savic not having the best World Cup with Serbia could work in the Gunners’ ‘favour’, adding that they would have a ‘reasonably clear run’ should they decide to sign him in this window:

“The one thing in Arsenal’s favour here is that Milinkovic-Savic didn’t quite light up the World Cup in a way that he could have done.

“If Arsenal do want him, this would probably be the time to make their move, because they’d have a reasonably clear run at him.”

The Verdict: Sign him and Mudryk?

The North London club are already strongly linked with a big-money move for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, and with the injury to Gabriel Jesus, they should be prioritising attacking reinforcements in this window.

Milinkovic-Savic would also be a real statement of a signing though, given that he is one of the best in the world in his position.

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The midfielder ranked in the top 7% in Europe’s top five leagues in 2022 for non-penalty goals, non-penalty xG, shots, assists, xAG, npxG + xAG, touches, progressive passes received and aerial duels won per match at club level (FBRef), but was unfortunately knocked out with Serbia in the group stages of the World Cup in Qatar.

Hailed as ‘magic’ and on the ‘same level of Kevin De Bruyne’ by his Lazio team-mate Ciro Immobile, Milinkovic-Savic is still rated very highly in Italy, and Arsenal would do very well to sign him on top of Mudryk in January.

Hutton: Yilmaz may leave Rangers on loan

Former Glasgow Rangers defender Alan Hutton has suggested that Ridvan Yilmaz could leave Ibrox on loan in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Galatasaray interest

As per Turkish news outlet Takvim, Galatasaray are planning to make a loan offer for Yilmaz in January, and are closely monitoring his situation with the Gers.

The Turkey international has only made unused substitute again in the 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Premier League Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Latest: Hutton reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton has admitted that it is a ‘strange’ situation with Yilmaz and the club, adding that he could look to go out on loan in January, just six months after joining:

It is a strange situation.

I think Rangers put out a lot of money in transfer fees to bring him in.

I think it has taken him a little bit longer to settle.

We are going to see more of him hopefully in the coming weeks, there are a lot of games coming up so there is opportunity for him to shine.

I think if it goes the way it is going, and Barisic is going to be a regular starter then he might look to go out on loan.

But something in the back of my mind tells me that Rangers have paid all this money for him they are going to try and get him in the team.

Hopefully in the upcoming weeks we will see a little bit more of him and he can prove his worth to Rangers.

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The Verdict: Play him more!

The solution seems simple enough, but Van Bronckhorst simply has to play Yilmaz more and start integrating him into the first team.

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Barisic is far from his best form, having received plenty of criticism for his performance against Liverpool, and after spending £5m to bring Yilmaz in, the left-back should be getting more game time.

Nonetheless, with only two senior left-backs in the squad, the Light Blues should do all that they can to persuade Yilmaz to stay past January, and the best way of doing that is to give him more minutes on the pitch ahead of Barisic.

Leeds in advanced talks over new Crysencio Summerville deal

Leeds United’s talks with Crysencio Summerville over a new deal are at an advanced stage, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Fresh Gelhardt deal

The Whites have been hard at work in the transfer market ahead of Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge and are now working on in-house business.

The club are thought to be on the verge of announcing a new five-year deal for young forward Joe Gelhardt, who will earn a 55% pay rise at Elland Road.

Gelhardt has become a regular in the first-team squad over the last 12 months, but it looks as if he isn’t the only forward who will pen fresh terms in Yorkshire.

The Latest: Summerville to follow?

According to FI, Leeds are in advanced talks with Summerville over a new contract.

The 20-year-old is into the final 12 months of his current deal, and the club are keen to secure his long-term future after links of a move to Nottingham Forest earlier in the window.

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The Verdict: Good news

Leeds have put plenty of time and effort into developing both Gelhardt and Summerville in recent years at academy level, so it is good news to see they will both extend their stay with the club.

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Hopefully, we will see Summerville following in Gelhardt’s footsteps of making a real impact on the first team stage, and who knows, his chance may come sooner rather than later following an injury to Luis Sinisterra in pre-season.

He’s been labelled as ‘sensational’ by Andrew Taylor and a player with a ‘bag of tricks’ by Chris Powell, so it looks as if Leeds fans should be excited by what’s to come from the forward over the next few years.

Rangers had a big howler with Liam Kelly

The Rangers academy showcased its potential last weekend as Giovanni van Bronckhorst fielded a host of young players in their final Premiership match of the campaign.

Alex Lowry stole the show for the Ibrox side with a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win, whilst the likes of Leon King, Charlie McCann and Cole McKinnon, among others, also featured in the first-team match.

Van Bronckhorst has shown that he is not afraid to give young players a chance at Rangers, and Lowry’s emergence is proof of that.

Rangers have not always had the best of luck when it comes to bringing players through their academy in recent years. Of those currently playing professional football, the 10 most valuable Gers academy products – via Transfermarkt – are all playing for other clubs, albeit that one of them (Nathan Patterson) left the club earlier this year in a record deal.

One player with whom the Gers had a big howler in 2018 was goalkeeper Liam Kelly, who was sold to Livingston for an undisclosed fee. Transfermarkt valued him at £90k at the time of the move, having failed to make a first-team appearance at Ibrox.

Since making the switch four years ago, he has played for Livingston and English Championship side QPR, and he is now back in the Premiership with Motherwell as their number one.

He played 22 times in his season in west London in 2019/20 and duly sealed a transfer to Fir Park, where he has impressed with his performances.

In the Premiership this term, he averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.79 and committed zero errors leading to shots or goals. This comes after he averaged a sublime score of 6.97 last term for Motherwell, making zero errors in total.

His current manager Graham Alexander hailed him as a  “fantastic” goalkeeper and tipped him to be on Steve Clarke’s radar for the Scotland squad, highlighting how impressive the 26-year-old has been.

Meanwhile, Allan McGregor has averaged a score of 6.76 in the top flight this term and made four errors directly leading to shots or goals. This suggests that Rangers had a big howler in letting Kelly go in 2018, as his current performances suggest that he has been more reliable than the 40-year-old in the Premiership throughout 2021/22.

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At the time of writing (17/05/22), Transfermarkt value the former QPR tank at £405k. This is a whopping 350% increase from his valuation at the end of his Rangers career, which shows that he has come on leaps and bounds since departing from his hometown.

Instead of benefitting from his value on and off the pitch, the Gers let him go before giving him a chance at senior level, and they will surely be regretting that decision now…

AND in other news, Van Bronckhorst must finally unleash “powerful” 19 y/o Rangers gem who “took his chance” in 2022…

Bruce must unleash Gardner-Hickman

West Brom have gone from challenging for the Championship title and automatic promotion to battling for a play-off spot lower down the table in a matter of months, and this demise has led to the sacking of Valerien Ismael, followed by the appointment of Steve Bruce in the last few weeks.

Bruce clearly enjoys working in challenging scenarios, of which he experienced during his most recent tenure at Newcastle United, and it will be no easy feat to turn around the poor fortunes of the Baggies as they have only picked up one win in nine games, with the new manager yet to seal a victory in his first two games in charge, following a goalless draw at The Hawthorns on Monday night against Blackburn Rovers.

There is one player who has proven he has what it takes to be impactful in the side following a string of starting appearances under the former manager, and he could become a talisman for Bruce if he can get the best out of the youngster.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman signed a new contract committing his future to the Baggies at the end of last year, after impressing in the first team which led to praise from Ismael, in which he called the 20-year-old “fearless” following the completion of his contract;

“He represents exactly what we want to see from young players. He’s hungry, he has desire, he’s fearless. He also has a lot of quality,” he said.

Despite only making his debut for the first team during this season, the young starlet was hugely impressive in his first four Championship games where he appeared in the line-up, with the Baggies taking all three point from three out of the four, and was given Man of the Match for his most notable performance against Coventry City.

According to Sky Sports, back in December, in the first away victory since September against Coventry, Gardner-Hickman had the most touches, most blocks, and most successful passes for West Brom proving he is capable of outstanding contribution for the side.

In fact, in the nine appearances that the 20-year-old gem has recorded in the league this season for the Baggies, the youngster has won the majority of his duels (55%), been successful in the majority of his dribbles (60%), made 2.6 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game and has the sixth highest rating overall in the entire first team squad (6.98) according to SofaScore.

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With that being said, the ex-Newcastle boss must unleash Gardner-Hickman in the starting line-up of his struggling West Brom side as he could clearly make an impactful contribution in the challenge to secure a play-off place in the last 15 games of the season.

AND in other news, Forget Dike: Bruce could unearth his new Wilson by unleashing “powerful” WBA “diamond”…

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