Former Sunderland and Middlesbrough star Lee Cattermole appointed as new Gateshead manager
The former Sunderland and Middlesbrough star has taken his first steps into management with National League club Gateshead.
Gateshead have confirmed the appointment of former Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder Lee Cattermole as their new first-team manager.
The 38-year-old has agreed a two-year deal with the National League club after holding talks with interim chairman Graham Wood over the last fortnight and will now officially kickstart his senior managerial career at the International Stadium. After making 272 Premier League appearances with the Black Cats, Boro and Wigan Athletic, Cattermole brought down the curtain on his playing career with Dutch club VVV-Venlo in 2020 before moving into coaching.
After holding coaching positions within Middlesbrough academy and the first-team setup at Bristol Rovers and Burnley, Cattermole also had a spell as Under-17s coach with the Northern Irish FA - but has now moved into a senior role with Gateshead just over a month after he narrowly missed out on the managerial position with National League rivals Hartlepool United.
Cattermole will work alongside Pools legend Ben Clark after he penned a long-term deal to continue as Gateshead’s first-team coach earlier this month - and the former Sunderland captain is relishing the opportunity he has been handed by the Heed.
Opportunity
He told the Heed website: “It’s something I’m really excited about. The opportunity to get a crack at first-team management - especially at Gateshead as well. I think you’ve proven over the years that you’ve given that platform to first time managers. When you go into coaching or management, you’ve got to decide where you feel you’re going to be best suited, and I’ve been clear that I want to be a manager. It’s something I’ve made clear from the outset that I want to do, and it’s here now, and I’m excited for the challenge.
“My vision for the team is going to take time, it’s not going to be quick. I’ll have clear expectations with the group in terms of the demands of being a professional footballer and how to move forward in the game. How I’ll carry myself as a manager here will be consistent and the players will see that, they’ll feel that and I’m sure they’ll learn from that.
“We’ve talked a lot about the identity of Gateshead over the years and I want to learn about that and understand what we really want to keep hold of and what’s the core of it, and then where I feel we can add myself to that and hopefully develop it further. I’m not coming in and saying it’s all this way or that way – let’s build something together. ”
‘Standout candidate’ - Heed chairman Graham Wood
Heed interim chairman Graham Wood added: “On returning to the role of Chairman, it was clear that my immediate priority was to appoint a First-Team Manager. Of the applicants already assembled, Lee was the standout candidate and I decided there was no need to look further. Following meetings with Lee and his agent, I am pleased to confirm that we have agreed terms and that Lee will commence his duties immediately. Lee brings with him the experience gained from over 250 games in the Premier League, where he worked with some of the most respected managers in world football, including Gareth Southgate and Martin O’Neill.”