ALBION signed versatile former Wigan player Paul Scharner on a Bosman towards the end of the 2010 August transfer window.

The Austria international penned a two-year deal after passing a Hawthorns medical.

He had been a free agent since deciding to leave the DW Stadium after his contract ran out in May 2010 and the Baggies beat several Barclays Premier League clubs to his signature.

Scharner had not played a game since Wigan's final match of the 2009/10 at Chelsea but arrived at The Hawthorns in peak physical condition, having worked with a personal fitness coach for two months.

He eventually settled in central midfield where he forged an impressive partnership with Youssouf Mulumbu and scored four goals - three coming in wins at Everton, Blues and Sunderland.

Scharner did not score for the Baggies on home soil last term but received the first Barclays Premier League red card of his career in April's 2-1 victory over Villa.

The mad-cap Austrian caught the eye in the final home game against Everton when he appeared with dyed blue-and-white-striped hair as a tribute to the Albion fans.

He joined Wigan from Norwegian side Brann in January 2006 and went onto make a club record 145 Premier League appearances for the Latics, scoring an impressive 14 goals.

He underlined his versatility by playing in every outfield position for Wigan apart from left-back.

Scharner crowned his Latics debut by scoring a Carling Cup semi-final first leg winner against Arsenal and made his Premier League debut against Albion at the DW Stadium five days later, a game the Baggies won 1-0.

Born in Schiebbs, he famously shaved the word 'thanx' into the hair on the back of his head in his final home game for Wigan against Hull at the end of last season to salute the fans for their support.

The 6ft 3in player, whose career started with spells in his homeland with Austria Vienna and Red Bull Salzberg, is also a regular at international level and had won 30 caps before joining Albion.

(LAST UPDATED SEPTEMBER 28, 2011)