West Brom boss Pulis full of praise for departing Olsson

West Brom boss Tony Pulis has led the tributes to Jonas Olsson following the defender’s decision to leave Albion and return to his native Sweden.

The 34-year-old would have been out of contract this summer, but the club agreed to cancel his deal early so that he can join up with Djurgårdens IF in preparation for the start of the Swedish season in April.

The Baggies head coach said he spoke with the former Swedish international after confirming the end of his nine-year stay at The Hawthorns, and hailed him as a model professional.

Olsson joined the Baggies in 2008 and has played for the club 262 times, scoring 14 goals. He scored once in 25 appearances for the Swedish national team.

Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

And Pulis, who has engineered a successful season in the West Midlands with West Brom eighth in the Premier League, wished the towering defender all the best.

He said: “I wanted to wish Jonas the best of luck as he starts a new phase in his career and a new step in his life.

“I thanked him for his loyalty and effort on my watch. He is a super competitor and terrific professional.

“He will always be looked on with great respect by everyone at West Bromwich Albion and he will always be welcomed back here while I’m in charge.”