After just 12 games, the Black Cats and the former Rangers boss have parted ways.
The Michael Beale era at Sunderland has ended. The former Rangers and QPR boss has left the club after just eight weeks, twelve games, and six losses during which the Black Cats dropped out of the play-off spots to 10th in the Championship table.
Although Beale’s appointment to Wearside had caused some division, he replaced Tony Mowbray in December by agreeing to a two-and-a-half-year contract. During his brief time at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland’s fortunes swiftly deteriorated as they lost to Coventry, Hull, and Huddersfield in the league and were humiliated 3-0 by rivals Newcastle in the FA Cup.
Ironically, Beale’s career came to an end on Saturday due to a 2-1 loss to Mowbray’s Birmingham team. During the match, Beale infuriated fans by seemingly ignoring Trai Hume’s handshake when the defender was replaced. Later on, Beale asserted that he “didn’t see” Hume.
In any case, the 43-year-old was unable to keep his position, and Sunderland’s management team, which is now searching for a new manager.
Mike Dodds, Beale’s assistant manager, has taken over as the team’s temporary manager till the end of the current campaign while the Black Cats search for a long-term replacement.
Will Still
After Mowbray’s departure, Sunderland’s intention was for an overseas managerial hire willing to work with younger players. Therefore, the dynamic young English coach Still appeared to be a good fit because he is effective at Ligue 1 despite having a small budget.
Yet Still distanced himself from rumours linking him with the post, rubbishing the notion that he’d offered himself out to Championship clubs.
“I have too much respect for the people I work with for that,” he said. “It’s a shame the story was blown up so much.”
The Reims manager, who is only 31 who is building a solid reputation in the industry, is once again among the front-runners for the Sunderland position, which comes as no surprise.
Chances: 2-1
Paul Heckingbottom
Heckingbottom, who isn’t exactly the most glamorous name on this list, would bring a promotion from the Championship to his resume, having won it with Sheffield United the previous season.
Despite his deceptive tactics in the Premier League with the Blades, the former manager of Barnsley and Leeds was not exactly endowed with a competitive team, as Chris Wilder’s subsequent problems have demonstrated. Heckingbottom would be more of a Mowbray-type appointment if Sunderland choose to go back to their somewhat successful play-off-winning strategy from the previous campaign.
Chances: 7-2
Parker Scott
Parker may offer the best of both worlds in terms of meeting Sunderland’s priorities, having most recently worked as a manager for Club Brugge and having managed two Championship teams to promotion.
The former England midfielder’s reputation has been slightly damaged after strong stints at Fulham and Bournemouth, but he had something of a nightmare in Belgium, losing a Champions League knockout tie 7-1 on aggregate to Benfica and being fired shortly after.
It remains to be seen if Parker would find the post appealing. In addition to providing that crucial promotion experience, he could be able to have Sunderland playing the kind of appealing football that their supporters want to see.
Chances: 7-2
Kim Hellberg
Prior to his appearance on Sunderland’s radar towards the end of the previous season following Mowbray’s exit, the Swede was unknown to the majority of English football supporters.
He is only 36 years old, has coached since he was 23, and has advanced through the Swedish football ranks.
Though Hellberg has lately accepted a new position at Swedish powerhouse Hammarby, his unusual name may still appeal to Sunderland’s owners. It’s improbable that he would decide to move to England at this time.
Chances: 7-4
Steve Cooper
Steve Cooper’s odds are given by several bookmakers, it seems doubtful that the former manager of Nottingham Forest, who was once desired by Crystal Palace, would choose to move down to the Championship for his next position. Graham Potter, who hasn’t had a job since leaving Chelsea last year, is similarly affected.
Others
Along with Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney, who are both available but have had recent high-profile setbacks, the bookmakers have placed former Sunderland manager Roy Keane, who has hinted at a potential comeback to management, in their lineups.
Sam Allardyce is another former Black Cats manager mentioned as having a chance to take over though, he would only be a temporary solution.