Fonte has started work after being appointed earlier this summer

José Fonte has opened up on his new role within Sunderland's coaching group and says he has enjoyed a 'fantastic' start to life with the club.

The former Southampton and Portugal defender was appointed assistant coach earlier this summer having called time on his playing career, and started work last Monday ahead of the club's pre-season tour of the USA.

Speaking to safc.com, Fonte said his main focus was to support the existing coaching group and to bring the experience of his playing career.

"It's been fantastic, it couldn't have been a better situation to get to know everyone and to adapt faster," Fonte said.

"I'm very grateful to everyone, the whole staff and all the players, they've welcomed me very well.

"The responsibilities for me are the individual development of the players, so my focus will be working with the boys to try and improve them on some aspects that the coach thinks is important. I'm also part of the set piece coaching, so it's part of my duty to help in that area. Third, is to be one of the three assistants for the coach himself and to try and contribute with the experience that I've acquired over my career so that's what I'll try to do."

Fonte was a team mate and close friend of Reinildo at Ligue 1 club Lille, and says he kept a close eye on Sunderland's results last season as a result. Fonte says he was impressed with the work ethic of the team and hopes to help replicate that success in the upcoming campaign.

"I watched a couple of the games last season, mainly because I wanted to see Reinildo and how he was doing," Fonte said.

"I was super impressed with the team the first couple of games and it got me to watch even more because they just kept bringing in good results. I was looking to see what they were doing so well and the organisation is fantastic, the coach has done an amazing job.. how well organised they are and how hard they work as a team. The fanbase of course is massive, they really are the 12th man especially at home the place is always rocking. Hopefully we can continue and improve even if possible."

Fonte joins Sunderland’s existing coaching group of Alessandro Barcherini and Michael Proctor, James Brayne (set pieces), Neil Cutler (goalkeeping) and Isidre Ramón Madir (Chief Analyst).

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What Régis Le Bris said about José Fonte’s arrival at the club

Speaking after the club’s opening pre-season friendly at York City earlier this month, Le Bris said he thought Fonte would bring something new to the existing group.

“We've had different set-ups in the last two seasons, it takes time to find the right balance between different roles," he said.

“I really enjoyed the last part, the last four or five months. I think we were really balanced and the working flow was really good. With José Fonte, we have a totally different profile from a high-level professional player with good experience, high standards, good knowledge of European football as well. So he will add something new in the coaching staff without disturbing the whole workflow. We don't have his profile in the coaching staff, so I hope we'll find the right balance."

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