After the 2023/24 season, Sunderland’s whole focus will be on selecting a new manager for the next 2024/25 season.
The Black Cats’ campaign fizzled out, and they haven’t had a regular manager since Michael Beale left in February, so everyone at the club knows that the next appointment is critical.
In retrospect, the club’s decision to remove Tony Mowbray with the team barely outside the play-off places was a terrible one, with Beale unpopular among supporters and the club plummeting down the league table at a rapid pace following his departure.
Sunderland ended 16th, level on points with QPR, who had been fighting relegation all season, demonstrating how awful things were under both Beale and Mike Dodds.
However, the 2024/25 season offers a new beginning, and the club will aim to select a manager in the near future to give them plenty of opportunity to make their mark on the club.
With that in mind, here is the latest on Sunderland’s search for a new manager…
Sunderland suffered a blow in their pursuit of Danny Rohl.
Sunderland have recently been linked with Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl, with The Northern Echo suggesting that Rohl was one of the alternatives under consideration by Kristjaan Speakman and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.
However, The Sheffield Star reports that the German manager may be poised for a new contract at Hillsborough as the Owls seek to draw out a long-term strategy for the team to go to the next level.
Following constructive conversations between Rohl and the club’s owner, Dejphon Chansiri, it appears like the German manager will remain at Sheffield Wednesday, while Sunderland will miss out.
This is disappointing since Rohl would have been an excellent fit for the Stadium of Light, but Speakman and Louis-Dreyfus must start over.
Former Sunderland striker speaks out on prospective deal for Liam Rosenior.
Liam Rosenior was released by Hull City earlier this week and is now a free agent for any interested clubs.
He led the Tigers to seventh place in his first full season with the club, but owner Acun Ilicali opted to break ways with the former Derby County player.
As a young, rising manager, he may be a fantastic fit for Sunderland, and former Black Cats striker Marco Gabbiadini believes Rosenior is interested in the position at the Stadium of Light.
He told BBC Total Sport – North East: “I think the club appeals to a lot of people. I don’t think it’s a poisonous job, but I do believe there are some issues at the club that you need address if you want to come in.
“I believe he is a coach with a tremendous reputation; everyone you hear about him talks about how nicely he conducts himself, how effective his teaching is, and how he was previously involved at Derby [County].
“I think he would be interested in the job at Sunderland.”
Will Still, the manager of Reims, has often emerged as a candidate for Sunderland’s next manager.
The Athletic reported that Still was interviewed for the Sunderland job in December when Tony Mowbray was fired, and the Sunderland Echo alleged that compensation was a major factor in Still’s rejection at the Stadium of Light.
The 31-year-old is scheduled to depart Reims at the end of the season and will be looking for a new role, which may be good news for Sunderland.
It’s no secret that the Black Cats are great fans of Still, and this summer could be the perfect time to hire him because he’s a free agent and Sunderland is without a manager.
According to the Sunderland Echo, Still wants to return to the UK and is eager to play in the Championship.
This suggests that Sunderland might be in the running to hire Still later this summer, but with the Ligue 1 season still ongoing, it could be a long before the club has a manager in place.
