Michael Beale has been appointed as the new head coach for Sunderland, fourteen days after they sacked Tony Mowbray.
As reported by the club, Beale holds a contract at The Stadium of Light until Summer 2026. Interim manager Mike Dodds has been appointed assistant head coach after impressing with two wins over West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United as temporary custodian.
The ex-Rangers boss arrives in the North East with a reasonable pedigree. He initially worked as a coach at the academies of Premier League giants Chelsea and Liverpool, before being offered a senior opportunity as first-team coach with Steven Gerrard at both Rangers and Aston Villa.
Beale’s first managerial job was a successful tenure at Queens Park Rangers where he led the club to a top-place spot during one part of last season. After five months at QPR, the 43-year-0ld jumped ship to return to Rangers, where he was previously first-team coach. That season the Glaswegian club finished the season second and as runners-up in the Scottish League Cup.
Beale was then relieved of his duties at The Ibrox just seven games into this current season, leaving Scotland with the highest top-flight win percentage (77.42%) of any manager in the club’s history, just ten weeks ago.
This season the Black Cats find themselves three points outside the play-off spots, two places better off than when they departed with head coach Tony Mowbray. With 24 games left to play in the Championship season, Beale will be hoping to build on this already strong foundation.
Speaking via the club’s website, Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman said:
“We have monitored Michael’s career for some time and we are delighted to have reached an agreement for him to become our new Head Coach.
“He has an excellent and well-founded reputation for developing players and he is an outstanding progressive coach, who is aligned with our playing identity and naturally fits within our structure alongside Mike Dodds and the wider team.”
Sunderland face their first challenge under their new manager this Saturday at home to in-form Coventry City, who held Leeds to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road last time out.
Writer’s View
Beale arrives at the club with a reasonable reputation at this level and as stated by their Sporting Director, with a good reputation for nurturing young talent, of which Sunderland have a wealth of this season.
With the busy Christmas period quickly approaching, however, it will be important that Beale can get his side flying as early as possible in order to avoid falling behind in a rapidly heating up promotion race.
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