Former Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has been asked whether he will return to the club.
Poyet, 56, is presently unemployed after leaving his position as Greece’s national team manager last month.
It has been nine years since the Uruguayan left Sunderland, following a two-year period in which Poyet managed 75 games, winning 23, drawing 23, and losing 29.
Poyet’s 30.7% victory ratio places him ahead of several other managers at the time, including Paolo Di Canio, Dick Advocaat, Sam Allardyce, David Moyes, Simon Grayson, and Chris Coleman.
Since leaving the Stadium of Light, Poyet has managed AEK Athens, Real Betis, Shanghai Shenhua, Bordeaux, Chilean club Universidad Catolica, and finally the Greek national team.
Gus Poyet explains Sunderland’s potential under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.
And, in a recent interview, Poyet discussed the present state of affairs at Sunderland, which is looking for a new manager.
Poyet stated:
“Sunderland is a good club with a large fan base.” Last season, they outperformed by making the playoffs.
“Expectations grew as the season progressed, and with such a young squad, time is required. Michael Beale came in and left, and Michael Dodds’ second spell has been difficult.”
Beale’s term at Sunderland was the second shortest of any manager, with Mike Dodds overseeing 10 games in his third stint as temporary manager.
So far, Dodds has won twice, drawn three, and lost five, with the Black Cats losing only one of their past six games.
“With all the changes, it’s tough to progress as team needs stability now,” he said.
“This season’s final place may be similar to where Sunderland was anticipated to finish last year, with the goal of moving up the table this year.
“But now is the moment to be calm at Sunderland. They must have a clear picture of where they want to go and then pursue that path.
“The excellent young players need a head coach to guide them and they can push on next season.”
Gus Poyet on his prospective Sunderland comeback
Poyet went on to explore whether or not he would return to the club if given the opportunity.
To this, he simply responded:
“I’m in touch with the Sunderland owners because I know them well. It’s a good team with much of promise.”
Although Poyet joined Sunderland a few years before current co-owner Juan Sartori, they both come from the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, which could explain the relationship.
Sunderland owners Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Sartori, along with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, face a challenging challenge this summer.
The most important role is managerial appointment, followed by player sales and purchases.
The Black Cats absolutely need to get this next appointment right after the Beale catastrophe, and they can do it by choosing a manager who will appeal to fans.
Someone like Will Still would be a popular choice among supporters, whereas Poyet may not be.
While he performed a good job on Wearside and is seasoned, Sunderland could be more imaginative; Poyet has not managed in England since leaving the Black Cats in 2015.
If Sunderland recruit Poyet, there may be a fan backlash, setting Poyet up for failure, as was the case with Beale.
So, while he may have ties in the Sunderland boardroom and expertise on his CV, a Poyet return appears improbable and unneeded.
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