SUNDERLAND HAVE APPOINTED former Brighton coach Gus Poyet as their new manager on a two-year deal.
The Black Cats are currently bottom of the Premier League and recently sacked Paolo Di Canio after only 13 games in charge. Poyet is Sunderland’s sixth manager in five years, and the club will be hoping he can bring stability.
Kevin Ball, Sunderland’s senior professional development coach, had been in charge of the side on a short-term basis as they searched for a full-time manager, but the 48-year-old will now step aside.
Speaking about the appointment, Sunderland AFC Chairman, Ellis Short, said:
We analysed a wide range of candidates and believe that Gus’s track record, experience, commitment and passion make him the right man to take us forward. We welcome him to Sunderland.”
Poyet began his coaching career as an assistant to Dennis Wise at Swindon, before performing a similar role at Leeds United. From there, he progressed to first team coach at Spurs, where he eventually became assistant manager to Spaniard Juande Ramos.
His first managerial appointment came at Brighton in 2009 and he helped the club to promotion from League One, before leading them to a Championship semi-final last season, only to be beaten by Crystal Palace.
However, the relationship turned sour when Poyet was suspended by Brighton in May following an internal disciplinary hearing. In June, the Uruguayan was sacked by the club for gross misconduct. While the details of the reasons for his sacking have not been revealed, Poyet claimed in August that he was taking legal action against Brighton.
For now, those worries will move into the background as Poyet attempts to lift Sunderland off the bottom of the league. The Black Cats have just one point after seven games, with their next fixture away to Swansea on the 19th of this month.
