As expected, Dick Advocaat has been confirmed as the new head coach of Sunderland following the dismissal of Gus Poyet earlier this week.
A 4-0 home defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon proved to the final match in the reign of Poyet, who had impressed last season when succeeding Paolo di Canio to lead the club away from relegation with a number of memorable performances. The humiliating loss to Tim Sherwood’s side, though, has reignited their fears of relegation, as they now sit just a point above the drop zone.
Upon confirmation of the Uruguayan’s departure on Monday afternoon, Advocaat was immediately installed as favourite to replace him. The 67-year-old has no prior experience of working in England, but he did lead Rangers to two league titles during a successful three-and-a-half year spell in Scotland. More recently, he coached the Serbian national side before resigning last November.
Advocaat, who has also coached his native Holland as well as the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Russia and a number of European clubs, has been appointed by the Black Cats until the end of the season and has nine games to lead them to safety. Speaking to their official club website, the Dutchman said: “Sunderland is a big club and I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead…I can’t wait to get started.”
By the time he takes his seat for the first time, Sunderland could already be in the bottom three if Burnley can follow their unexpected win against champions Manchester City with another unlikely win at Southampton on Saturday afternoon. The Black Cats are then in action later that day, when they travel to Upton Park to face West Ham United and Sam Allardyce, who some expect to succeed Advocaat in the summer.
