Ex-West Brom captain who almost landed Hawthorns job set for new SPL move

However, such a move never materialised in the end but the former tough tackling and promotion winning Baggies captain is now set for the latest move in his managerial career.

McInnes, who captained Albion to promotion in 2002 and into their first ever Premier League campaign the following season, is set to become the new boss of Hearts.

Currently at Kilmarnock, where he has been since 2022, the ex-Rangers midfielder guided the Ayshire side into Europe by finishing fourth in the Scottish Premiership.

Now he looks set to take over at Hearts from former Aston Villa coach Neil Critchley, who was sacked after just six months.

McInnes has had a lot of success north of the border as a manager, after starting out with St Johnstone in 2009. He took them into the top flight, before briefly spending time as Bristol City manager.

That was followed by a seven year stint as Aberdeen boss, in a period where he did not finish lower than fourth and won the League Cup in 2014.

Owing to his links to Albion, McInnes has been touted as a potential Albion boss for some time, and has repeatedly been linked with the job when it has become available in the past.

And in an interview with the Express & Star's Baggies Broadcast podcast last year, McInnes revealed how he had come close to landing the position in the Hawthorns hot seat, prior to the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo in 2009.

He also explained that he always thought the natural progression would be for him to one day take over at Albion.

He said: "After that I was never asked down for an interview. I applied for it often enough.

"I always thought it would be a natural situation, but you need a lot of things to fall for you.

"The only job that really grabbed me in England was West Brom."