Sunderland replace manager Gus Poyet with Dick Advocaat

Dick Advocaat
Dick Advocaat has been appointed as the new manager of Sunderland AFC

Dick Advocaat has been appointed as the head coach of Sunderland after the sacking of Gus Poyet on Monday. Advocaat has the task of keeping the Black Cats in the Barclays Premier League until the end of the season. He definitely has a tough task ahead as Sunderland are only one place above relegation side Burnley by one point.

The 4-0 loss against Aston Villa at home was the final nail in Poyet’s coffin. The Uruguayan was already on his way out of Sunderland after only winning four games and losing 8-0 to Southampton in the first half of the season.

Ellis Short, the chairman of Sunderland had the following to say about Advocaat: “Dick 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.”

Advocaat who is of Dutch origin started his managing career in Holland, where he successfully managed several top level clubs in the Eredivisie before moving on to become the coach of the Netherland national team.

After his successful spell at Holland, Advocaat managed in Scotish side Rangers, where he won five trophies in a span of four years. After a few years in South Korea and United Arab Emirates, the dutchman returned to European football by coaching Zenit St. Petersburg for three years. He won the Russian League and Cup as well as the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in 2008 at his time in Russia.

Before accepting the Sunderland job Advocaat managed several national teams like Belgium, Russia and most recently Serbia.

“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,” said Advocaat following his appointment.

Advocaat can only hope to replicate the results of the two other dutch manager in the league, like Louis van Gaal and Ronald Koeman.

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Edited by Staff Editor