London, Jul 29 (IANS): Former West Bromwich Albion boss Gary Megson has returned to the English football club as the new assistant head coach, it was announced on the club's website.

The 58-year-old makes his comeback 17 years after he was appointed manager and is stepping into the vacancy left by Dave Kemp's decision to retire, reports Efe.

Megson guided Albion to the English Premier League (EPL) for the first time in 2002 and, despite relegation the following year, brought them back up in 2004 before leaving that year.

He will now assist manager Tony Pulis after having previously spent four years as manager at the Hawthorns from 2000.

"I've known Gary from my early days at Bristol Rovers when his dad Don gave me my debut and Gary would turn up to train as a 17-year-old," Pulis told Albion's website on Friday.

"He's been out of things for a while but that's what attracted me in many ways - he's fresh, he will hit the ground running and he's a person I know I can bounce things off," he said.

Megson's last managerial role was at Sheffield Wednesday, where he left in March 2012, while he has also been in charge at Norwich, Bolton and Nottingham Forest.

"I loved my time here (at Albion) although it's a long time ago now. You obviously have the club you grow up supporting which you always consider to be your club. But this is as close to that relationship as possible -- and I can't pay it a higher compliment then that. It's a terrific club with terrific support," Megson said.