Next Sunderland manager: Every rumour so far rated from Will Still to Roy Keane and Alex Neil as Kyril Louis-Dreyfus weighs up major decision
By Phil Smith
Published 13th Mar 2024, 12:01 BST
Updated 26th Mar 2024, 09:01 BST
Sunderland are searching for their next head coach following Michael Beale's departure in February, with Mike Dodds handed the job on an interim basis until the end of the season.
That has given the club the time and space to conduct a full search process as they decide on what will be a pivotal appointment, attempting to bounce back from what increasingly looks like being a disappointing end to the season.
With that in mind, we've taken a list at the early frontrunners with the bookmakers and rated each of the early rumours one by one - in order to give fans an idea of what might be next. Who is likely to be in the running, who most definitely isn’t and just what exactly is Kyril Louis-Dreyfus looking for in his ideal candidate to take the club forward into next season?
We take a closer look to try and find some answers. Odds courtesy of gambling.com
We take a closer look to try and find some answers. Odds courtesy of gambling.com
9. STEVE COOPER - 3/1
Cooper is clearly a standout candidate, having led Swansea City to an unlikely play-off final and Nottingham Forest to a remarkable promotion following a dismal start to the campaign. Given his consistent track record of finding a way to get results and his history of working with young players, it's impossible to imagine he hasn't emerged on Sunderland's radar - especially as he so outperformed his budget in South Wales.The question marks really are whether Cooper himself will wait for a Premier League job and whether given their budget and way of operating, Sunderland could put together a proposal of real interest to him. There were also criticism of his style of play at Swansea, though a coach of his calibre would surely be able to mould a team of such talent. All in all it feels unlikely, bit mainly because Cooper's stock is so high. Rumour rated: 7/10 Photo: OLI SCARFF
Solskjaer has flown up the list after reportedly indicating his interest in the role. His spell at Manchester United has aged relatively well given their persistent struggles either side of his tenure, but he was well supported by two coaches in Kieran McKenna and Michael Carrick who have gone on to show their pedigree elsewhere. Another where you have to wonder whether Sunderland's structure and strategy would suit his strengths, or entice him to drop down to the second tier. Rumour rated: 5/10 Photo: Matt McNulty
Still will surely come into the conversation, having been high in Sunderland's thinking following Tony Mowbray's departure in December. Still still represents the exact profile of candidate Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is looking for, an up-and-coming head coach who can implement a 'high-performance culture' at the Academy of Light. Still has made clear that he is open to a Championship move, but the question is whether the compensation issues that prevented his arrival in the winter will be any more surmountable in the summer. If not Still, then expect a similar profile of candidate to take the job. Rumour rated: 9/10 Photo: FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI
Keane certainly had his backers following Lee Johnson's departure but ultimately wasn't happy with the terms on offer, with Sunderland at that time looking for a short-term impact. He has made it clear it would take an excellent offer to leave a thriving punditry career and it it's questionable whether that would come from Sunderland. It also remains very difficult to imagine him working under a sporting director and having spent so long away from the training ground, does he fit the bill for Sunderland in terms of their desire for a coach? Keane was exceptional first time around and still surely has so much to offer the game, but this unfortunately feels like a non-starter for everyone in the current circumstances.Rumour rated: 4.5/10 Photo: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista