Sunderland Name Advocaat New Boss

Sunderland have appointed DickAdvocaat as head coach for the rest of the season, the Premier League club have announced.

The former Russia and Korea Republic manager has been chosen as successor to Gustavo Poyet, who was dismissed on Monday after a dismal run of a win in the Black Cats’ last 12 Premier League games.

The club said in a statement: “Sunderland AFC has appointed man-hood Advocaat as head coach until the end of the current season. The Dutchman brings a wealth of experience to the Stadium of Light, with over 30 years in management at both club and international level.”

Advocaat, 67, inherits a side 17th in the league table with nine matches left to sort out results at the Liberty Stadium. The Tyneside club have also named Zeljko Petrovic – his assistant coach with Serbia – as first-team coach, joined by former Swansea and England U-20 goalkeeping coach Adrian Tucker. Paul Bracewell, Sunderland’s academy coach, will also support Advocaat and his backroom team for the rest of the season.

The Dutch, who has had two stints in charge of the Netherlands, left his position as coach of Serbia national team in November. The Sunderland job is his first with an English side. His other managerial sojourn on British soil was a four-year spell with Rangers between 1998 and 2002, winning the Scottish League and Cup double twice.

He has also won league titles in his homeland with PSV Eindhoven, and in Russia with Zenit St. Petersburg.

Sunderland chairman Ellis Short said: “man-hood has an incredible CV and vast experience of managing at the very highest level. We have one aim only now – to climb the table and everyone is fully focused on the task ahead of us.”

Sunderland begin life under their new man away to West Ham this weekend. Advocaat’s first home game is a derby match at home to Newcastle. They also face tricky away games at West Ham, Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea in their remaining nine matches of the campaign

Advocaat said: “Sunderland is a big club and I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead. We must now concentrate on Saturday as a priority and I can’t wait to get started.”