Ossie Ardiles's big regret from a glittering career

He won a World Cup winner's medal, the FA Cup and secured one of the most important promotions in Albion's history.

But tomorrow, June 21, marks the anniversary of Ossie Ardiles's biggest regret from his glittering career.

That was the day – back in 1993 – the Argentine opted to leave the Baggies despite having just guided them out of the old Division Two.

After two hugely disappointing campaigns under the management of Brian Talbot and then Bobby Gould, Ardiles had arrived 12 months prior not only vowing to win promotion – but to do it in style.

The likes of Wayne Fereday, Frank Sinclair and Andy Dibble were quickly brought on board.

Ardiles's attacking instincts were perfectly balanced by his more defensive minded No.2 Keith Burkinshaw.

And in mid-October, they were top of the table with striker Bob Taylor regularly finding the target.

A wobble which saw them drop to fourth in mid-January led to Ardiles signing Andy Hunt from Newcastle to partner Taylor in attack.

He hit a hat-trick on his home debut in a 5-0 win over Brighton and claimed nine goals in the last 10 games as Albion finished fourth – missing out on automatic promotion by five points.

Paired with Swansea in the two-leg play-off semi-final, the Baggies lost 2-1 at Vetch Field.

But goals from Hunt and Ian Hamilton got them to Wembley where they beat Port Vale much to the delight of the 42,000 travelling supporters.

Ardiles's achievement hadn't gone unnoticed. He was courted by Tottenham and left just a few weeks later.

Some Baggies fans

felt angry he had quit just a year into his tenure, but there was also an empathy that Ardiles would find the lure of White Hart Lane too hard to resist – not least as he had spent nearly 10 years of his playing career at the club.

But Ardiles struggled back in London despite the expensive signings of Jürgen Klinsmann, Ilie Dumitrescu and Gheorghe Popescu with the Argentine sacked in October 1994 as Spurs languished in the bottom half of the table.

Now looking back, the boss accepts he made the wrong decision.

"Tottenham was an offer I couldn't turn down," he said. "My heart ruled my head and I deeply regret leaving Albion.

Choosing Tottenham at the time was a big mistake – something I realised much later in my life."