Former AZ Alkmaar boss Pascal Jansen is no longer being considered for the managerial position at Championship side Sunderland, according to local journalist James Copley on his ‘X’ account.
The 51-year-old, who was let go by Alkmaar in January, managed a 59.3% win ratio over his 162 games in charge of the Dutch side. He guided the team into Europe on three separate occasions.
The board have now stated that they are looking at ‘different options’ following unsuccessful talks with Jansen’s representatives.
Sunderland have been without a manager since the departure of Michael Beale back in February this year, with interim boss Mike Dodds seeing out the season for the club who finished in 16th position in the second tier. Former Stade de Reims boss Will Still, who left the French side at the end of the season, has also turned down a move to Wearside.
The Black Cats’ chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus released a statement during the week reassuring fans that they were in the final stages of recruiting a new boss for the North East-based side.
Amongst the names currently under consideration for the hot seat at the Stadium of Light are former Hull City boss Liam Rosenior and Bayern Munich’s under-19’s manager Rene Maric. The former led the Tigers to a respectable seventh position finish in the Championship, but was let go at the end of the season.
Marti Cifuentes, who is currently boss at Queens Park Rangers, has also been mentioned as well. He is thought to be wanted by recently relegated Burnley though.
Writer’s View
With the summer recruitment underway at most clubs, an appointment at Sunderland will need to be made very soon. The new manager will need time to achieve the targets on his shopping list.
With it being over 100 days without a manager, fans are understandably getting concerned. That being said, if the board take their time and appoint Cifuentes or Rosenior then it could be a shrewd appointment.
Although there have been rejections from some potential candidates, the board can’t be accused of sitting on their hands. An appointment should be imminent if the chairman’s statement is anything to go by.
