The Dutchman departed the Baggies in 2024.

Former Albion defender Erik Pieters has returned to old club Stoke in a coaching role.

Retired left-back Pieters, who turns 38 next month, has not played since a single cameo appearance for Derby at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Dutchman hung up his boots thereafter and was not attached to a club last season, but has taken up a new role in the game at one of his former homes.

He has joined the Potters - where he played from 2013 to 2019 - in an academy coaching role as part of the professional development phase. He is joined by fellow former Stoke man Danny Pugh.

The last regular football of Pieters’ career came with the Baggies amid a trying time for the club where transfer expenditure was almost entirely reduced due to ownership uncertainty and perilous finances.

Pieters was signed under former boss Steve Bruce, who admitted after making the free transfer in 2022 that the former Stoke and Burnley man was one of his neighbours.

The 18-cap Netherlands international became a dependable and versatile for Albion under Carlos Corberan despite his advancing years.

He made 61 appearances over two seasons for the club, the majority of which were starts in a more unfamiliar centre-back role.

Pieters then had very brief spell at Luton and Derby. He did not feature for the Hatters and played a single minute for the Rams, against Stoke.