Following their 2010 promotion, West Brom had eight prosperous years in the Premier League.
They consistently finished in the middle of the table, even going as high as ninth in the 2012–13 campaign, largely because of a dependable and devoted group of players who developed a great defensive reputation.
One such player was Youssouf Mulumbu, a midfielder who signed in January 2009 for a mere £175k after leaving PSG.
The former international for Congo was a hard-tackling midfield player who brought drive and resolve to the middle of the pitch.
Mulumbu had excellent technique as well; he would frequently score goals from the sidelines or dart past opponents to put the ball in the net.
Mulumbu, a cult figure at the Hawthorns, was essential to West Brom’s ascent to the top division and was a pillar of support as the Baggies held onto their Premier League membership despite years of management turnover – nine different managers took over the team while he was there.
Mulumbu played 211 games in seven seasons with West Brom until leaving the team in 2015. Because of his part in the team’s greatest run in recent memory, Mulumbu is still well-liked by the supporters.
| Youssouf Mulumbu career stats as per Transfermarkt | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| West Brom | 211 | 14 | 11 |
| Kilmarnock | 53 | 2 | 8 |
| Amiens | 29 | 1 | 0 |
| Norwich | 24 | 0 | 1 |
| PSG | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Celtic | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Mulumbu recovers from injury to guide West Brom to promotion.
Mulumbu joined relegation-threatened West Brom on loan in January 2009, but injuries meant he had to wait until April to make his Premier League debut.
Mulumbu was unable to prevent the Baggies’ slide towards relegation. But he returned to full fitness the next season, playing 46 games in all competitions as West Brom bounced straight back up to the Premier League.
A sign of his importance to the side, Mulumbu was named West Brom’s Player of the Year and, after a difficult start to life in England, had firmly cemented his reputation as a dependable member of West Brom’s team.
Mulumbu a figure of consistency as West Brom evolve
As they can’t push up the ladder due to their restrictions, recently promoted Premier League teams usually try to move on from the players who helped them get there.
However, West Brom remained with a core group of players that featured Mulumbu, Chris Brunt, and James Morrison, among others, and were rewarded with steady play that put them just outside of the European qualification zone in 2013.
Mulumbu adapted to playing premier league football with ease, despite never having played in the league prior to joining West Brom.
Mulumbu’s ability when in possession provided West Brom with a strong base on which to develop their assaults, enabling the Baggies to play fearlessly against any opponent.
West Brom dropped points against Arsenal and Manchester United in their first season back in the Premier League. They rallied from a two-goal deficit to draw with United, and then astonishingly grabbed a three-goal lead against Arsenal to win 3-2 at the Emirates.
Mulumbu’s all-action performances were crucial for West Brom in these contests and would remain a major component of the Baggies’ intimidating presence against the conventional top six.
Up until his exit from West Brom in 2015, Mulumbu was a dependable member of the team.
Finding a man as reliable as Mulumbu to anchor their midfield would be beneficial for West Brom, who are aiming to return to the Premier League this year.
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