Three managers named to be approached by Sunderland for vacant job

Three managers have been named to be approached by Sunderland for the vacant job according to reports on Wednesday afternoon.

The Black Cats’ hierarchy are planning to talk with Roy Keane, Grant McCann and Jonathan Woodgate in the coming days.

It comes a day after Kyril Louis-Dreyfus says that the club, who sit 3rd in League One, have been ‘overwhelmed’ by interest from all over the world for the vacant head coach position.

Louis-Dreyfus says that the process to replace Lee Johnson began Tuesday morning, with the 24 hours immediately following his departure seeing deals sealed for Jay Matete and Jermain Defoe.

In a brief interview with talkSPORT this week, he said there was no immediate replacement had been lined up.

“It was a difficult decision, it was a accumulation of things,” he said.

“We obviously don’t have have too long to reflect and we need to get ready for the remaining 17 league games, that’s the focus right now.

“Yesterday was the last day of the transfer window so we prioritised getting those last two signings that we made, but the process has definitely started since early this morning.

“We’ll give it the time it takes to get the right candidate.

“We’re working on it and speaking to many people. We’ve had huge interest from all over the world, every country to be honest.

“We were overwhelmed, and we’ll now run a diligent process.”

Louis-Dreyfus was asked whether his dramatic tenure to date has been what he expected.

“It was not much different in Marseille,” he said.

“I expected it to be like this and this is what I love, to be honest.”

The current favourite with the bookies is Roy Keane, who led the Black Cats to the Championship title in 2007, and had strong support from within the club, seeing him as the type of character they need to reignite their League One promotion push.

It is 13 years since he quit as Sunderland boss, citing differences with former owner Ellis Short. 

Keane last managed at Ipswich in 2011 but has stated several times in recent years that he would consider a return to the football dugout. 

Sources say they expect to have a conversation with Keane while McCann is also linked with a quick return to the touchline after he was axed by Hull City last month.

The 41-year-old ended his spell in East Yorkshire on a good note with wins against high-flyers Blackburn Rovers and AFC Bournemouth.

Unfortunately for him, new owner Acun Ilicali wanted a change in manager with the Turkish businessman making major changes at the club in the early stages of his tenure, and McCann was a victim of that with Shota Arveladze succeeding him and bagged themselves a 2-0 at home to Swansea.

Woodgate is also being considered while Mick McCarthy has thrown his hat into the ring too.

Current odds:
Roy Keane – 1/1
Grant McCann- 4/1
Neil Warnock- 6/1
Alex Neil – 8/1
Neil Lennon – 14/1
Patrick Kisnorbo – 14/1
John Terry – 20/1

ROY KEANE’S MANAGERIAL STATS:

Sunderland – 28 August 2006 until 4 December 2008 – 100 games 42 wins, 17 draws, 41 defeats, 42.0 win %
Ipswich Town – 23 April 2009 until 7 January 2011 – 81 games 28 wins, 25 draws 28 defeats, 34.6 win %
Total – 181 games, 70 wins, 42 draws 69 defeats, 38.7 win %

GRANT MCCANN’S MANAGERIAL STATS:

Peterborough United (caretaker) – 8 September 2015 until 21 September 2015 – 2 games, 1 win, 1 draws, 0 defeats, 50.0 win %
Peterborough United – 23 April 2016 until 25 February 2018 – 104 games, 41 wins, 27 draws, 36 defeats, 39.4 win %
Doncaster Rovers – 27 June 2018 until 21 June 2019 – 59 games, 27 wins, 14 draws, 18 defeats, 45.8 win %
Hull City – 21 June 2019 until 25 January 2022 – 136 games, 53 wins, 29 draws, 54 defeats, 39.0 win %
Total – 301 games, 122 wins, 71 draws, 108 defeats, 40.5 win %

JONATHAN WOODGATE’S MANAGERIAL CAREER:

Middlesbrough – 14 June 2019 until 23 June 2020 – 41 games, 9 wins, 16 draws, 16 defeats, 21.95 win %
AFC Bournemouth – 3 February 2021 until 30 June 2021 – 23 games, 13 wins, 2 draws, 8 defeats, 56.52 win %
Total – 64 games, 22 wins, 18 draws, 24 defeats, 34.38 win %

Following retirement, Woodgate took up various coaching roles at Middlesbrough until June 2019 when he was appointed manager of the club, following the departure of Tony Pulis.

He remained in the role for just over a year before he was dismissed in June 2020. He joined the coaching staff at AFC Bournemouth on the 1st of February 2021 before being appointed as caretaker manager two days later, following the sacking of Jason Tindall.

On the 21st of February, he was given the role until the end of the season, but left in June after failing to lead the club back to the Premier League via the playoffs.

Scott Parker was appointed on the 28th of June 2021 as Woodgate’s successor and Woodgate subsequently left the club upon his contract’s end.

Twitter users reacted with three managers named to be approached by Sunderland for the vacant job…

@StevieJ73: Would love to see Roy Keane return as manager, what a week this would be with Defoe coming back too! #SAFC

@MichaelPotts_: Keane is the bloke you turn to when you’re down, out, apathetic, but I think we’ve made good progress in terms of style and structure at the club and need to keep that consistency. The craic would be amazing, I’d 100% back him if it happens, but would feel like square one. #SAFC

@bywater_paul: Keane all the way

@sven_safc: I really hope Woodgate isn’t in the frame for the job.

@joel_gradwell: I’d rather sit on a cactus than see Woodgate in charge.

@Sunlin2021: Woodgate man hahahaha

@adam66Diablo: Na na naaaa na na na naaaa na na na naaaa KEANO ha’way @SunderlandAFC make it happen 🙏🙏🙏 #SAFC

@Matty_Safc7: “It still saddens me, I still think I should be the manager of #sunderland I really liked the club and I liked the people” #UnfinishedBusiness #keane #safc

@_andyyoureastar: Let’s be honest if Keano is getting interviewed, he’s definitely getting the job. You’d have to be the bravest man alive to interview him and not give him it like hahahah #SAFC

@brettd1981: Heart says yes to Keane, head says he did walk out when it got tough and will he work with Speakman as a boss #safc

@titch471: Everyone wanting Keane in… Remember when he got us promoted. Spent a fortune then walked away when things wernt going his way? Possibly do a job for a few months to get a reaction from the players but that’s it! #safc

@LBarks72: We all know the risks involved with Keane but it could be bloody brilliant #safc

@JoeThirlwell1: Imo #SAFC would be taking a big chance if they were to bring Keane in. Not likely to work well with a DOF model & surely would want longer than just 6 months. No doubt he would give players a kick up the arse, but personally worry how our young team would do under that approach.

@kielwats0n: Massive risk for us. However does have a promotion on his cv and is far more experienced in management now albeit working as an assistant. Great man management in his first spell, and tactically decent,but horrendous in the transfer market. I think he would do well again though

@Ryan_Doneathy: Speakman would take care of recruitment mostly. Allows Keane to concentrate on the coaching and man management.

@leet1981: He gets it. It would galavanise the club and region. We would have momentum for the last 17 games of the season.. then let’s see what’s happens in the summer. KEANO KEANO Bring him home.

@PerennialPundit: This has potential to end horribly for them..

@FredCostanzo8: As a Newcastle fan, I think this would actually be a decent appointment for them. Did pretty well them for them before and would surely get tonnes of respect from the players. If I was a Sunderland fan, I think I’d rather have someone like him than a dinosaur like Mick McCarthy!