Fans react as Sunderland appoint new permanent head coach 123 days after sacking Michael Beale

Fans react as Sunderland appoint new permanent head coach in Regis Le Bris, 123 days after sacking Michael Beale.

The 48-year-old Frenchman will officially take up the position on the 1st of July, having been granted a work permit. Now he and the club can prepare themselves for the 2024/25 season.

During his time at Lorient, Le Bris was at the helm for two seasons, the first, he guided them to a 10th place finish in Ligue 1, but unfortunately, they finished 17th and were relegated last season.

In the 2023-24 season, his new side finished 16th in the Championship, an underwhelming campaign after they finished sixth in their first season back in the second tier for the 2022/23 campaign under Tony Mowbray, only to lose to Luton in the playoff semi-final.

Mowbray was sacked back in December with Sunderland sitting 9th in the table, then his replacement, Michael Beale, had been axed after just 12 matches as they fell out of top six contention and ended the season 17 points below the playoff places with caretaker Mike Dodds put in charge for the time being.

Welcome to Sunderland, Régis Le Bris! 🇫🇷

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) June 22, 2024

Please tell us you aren’t suggesting we delayed the announcement 😳

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) June 22, 2024

CLUB STATEMENT:

Sunderland AFC is delighted to announce the appointment of Régis Le Bris as Head Coach.

The Frenchman will arrive on Wearside on 1 July 2024 and sign a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light.

Régis’ move to the North East brings an end to his 12-year association with French side FC Lorient, which included leading Les Merlus’ senior team from June 2022 to June 2024.

Following his appointment, Régis said: “I am honoured to be joining Sunderland AFC and look forward to immersing myself in the culture of the Club and the city. I believe the best way to understand and appreciate what makes a Club unique is to connect with the people who embody its spirit – the supporters, the community and all those who contribute to its character. All coaches talk about their enthusiasm and vision when they start a new role. I’m certainly here to pass on my energy and my convictions, but also to listen and learn. The history of this Club is very strong, and this is a unique opportunity to be part of that legacy. I recognise the potential of our team, a group that has seen both successes and more difficult times. Our journey together has only just begun, and I am ambitious about what we can achieve. I want us to bring joy to our fans, not only through results, but also through our style of play, and I’m convinced that with commitment and hard work, we can write an exciting new chapter.”

Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman added: “We are delighted to have attracted someone of Régis’ calibre to Sunderland. He is a talented coach, who is thoughtful and detailed in his approach and values strong relationships with players and staff. He is aligned with delivering our playing identity and he shares our ambition to win, as well as our passion for talent development. We are excited by the new ideas Régis will bring to Sunderland and look forward to supporting him in his new role.”

Chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus concluded: “I must start by thanking our fans for their patience and support throughout an extensive recruitment process. It was imperative for us to try and appoint a candidate who could build on the foundations we have established and play an integral part in fulfilling our long-term ambitions. After following Régis’ career in recent years and meeting with him extensively, we believe he can make that contribution and we are delighted to welcome him to Sunderland AFC. I’m looking forward to the 2024-25 season and excited for us all to be back together at the Stadium of Light in August.”

Régis spent most of his playing career with Stade Rennais and he returned to Roazhon Park as Head of Academy Coaching in 2004 after concluding his playing career with Stade Lavallois and K.S.K. Ronse.

An immensely successful tenure with Les Rennais included an Under-18 national title and victory in the Coupe Gambardella, France’s equivalent of the FA Youth Cup.

Régis moved to Lorient in 2012 to lead the Club’s youth development programme and he nurtured many highly regarded talents, whilst also coaching Lorient B from 2015 to 2022.

The Frenchman took charge of the Brittany-based outfit’s senior team in June 2022 and guided them to their highest top-tier finish in almost a decade, as the Club registered its second-highest points tally in their Ligue 1 history.

Welcome to Sunderland, Régis!

Fans react as Sunderland appoint a new permanent head coach 123 days after sacking Michael Beale…

@Jules_Lbt: Régis Le Bris is without doubt the best coach we’ve ever had. A master of 5-man defence, he has transformed the team with his tactical knowledge. You’ll be living the dream with Régis! (Isaak Touré is the best defender in L1 and you should recruit him too).

@Keiith_C_1971: Nice to finally have a head coach, let’s hope he is worth the wait. Welcome to the club Regis.

@juaneddy1: No mention of other coaches. If RLB is not to arrive until 1 July, wonder who will take the start of preseason training.

@AidanMackem: How many days? 😂 What a roller coaster but glad it’s over, welcome Regis!!

@mackem49000: Welcome to Sunderland I wish you every success at our great club! 😁👍🔴⚪️🔴 Thank god that process is over time to get to work!👍

@SAFCNathn: Get us promoted Mista Le Bris

@SAFC_Armour: about time , Welcome Reggy

@DannyConnolly__: People gonna look at this record and think he’s bad. But an exciting manager, who wants to play a great style. Give him a chance

@dazzaftm85: This whole carry on with appointing a head coach leaves zero tolerance going into this next season, we will all get behind this bloke but the club needs to back him with experience

@Phillip60156153: Hope the guy does well!!

@indiajxnexx: New contract for Riggy next pls 😉

@Lucas_kzln: Be careful, if he has a good first season, don’t give him all the powers as we did, during the 2nd season he made broken promises, catastrophic player management, played players who have the same agent as him and doesn’t communicate much on the other hand the players said that they knew how to manage youngsters ( he coached the youngsters of our team before coaching the A team ) and that they preferred him in this area. So he stubbornly keeps the same line-up but changes the starting eleven all the time

@Jasonbrahhhh: Hugely important season ahead. Player investment is a must now. Learn from mistakes and invest where is it’s glaringly obvious.

@glassockclassic: Stop the ⏰ we have a manager again. His first mission is to last longer than the 4 months it took to appoint him. Welcome to our great club. Please return it to the EPL. Ha’way Le Bris! #Regisredandwhitearmy

@WiseMenSayPod: It’s massively important the club got this over the line before the players return to training. Hopefully this can bring a bit of stability back to the club and we can kick on

@_GraemeAtkinson: His CV has sufficient credibility to offer lots of optimism, while Lorient’s recent relegation naturally can’t help but bring with it cause for apprehension too. No idea how this will turn out but it certainly seems an intriguing move by #SAFC. Good luck Régis!

@Kingy78_: Hopefully this is the end of the complete shit show since last December. Clean slate and will have my full support however he needs a lot of backing before the season starts to give him any chance #safc

@PlannerMarj: Good luck, fella. I hope you prove me and other sceptical folk dead wrong! #safc

@JoanneYougson: I applaud his bravery, question his sanity but welcome him to the rollercoaster … see you in Spain Regis lad 👏👏👏

@SensibleSAFC: Some will be annoyed, others will be underwhelmed, but I think we can all be pleased the position has finally been filled! Whatever your opinions are on how we got here, what mistakes were made and who’s to blame; now is the time to get behind the team again. Welcome, Régis!

@BMordey7: About time 👏❤️ All aboard HMS Le Bris the league!

@BRoberts9: Welcome Regis, let’s get this football club back to where it is supposed to be 🔴⚪️

@ianhigh1: It may have taken much longer than necessary and unnecessarily raised supporter tension but I’m pleased we have someone in position and hope he proves to be a massive success, he’s very brave for taking the position so best of luck to him. #safc

@_wisemensay: Massively underwhelming. Not wanting to get on his back because it’s not his fault. The initial communications from the club and the statement two weeks ago do not add up to this. It’s desperate #safc

@MackemAnalyst: Plenty of potential in this appointment, but the summer recruitment must give him the tools he needs. He’s vastly experienced in the game, but limited time as a head coach. His first season brought great success at Lorient – hopefully he can replicate similar at #SAFC

@__H4T__: No choice but to back him but fuck me it’s been another shit show from the board! Hopefully they don’t let him down and give him the resources that he needs! Ha’way the lads

@past_sunderland: Welcome to the madhouse Régis. Now time for us to strengthen in the transfer market and get us into a fit state for the start of the season. #SAFC