List of Sunderland A.F.C. managers
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Sunderland Association Football Club was founded in September 1880 as Sunderland and District Teachers Association Football Club.[1] After turning professional in 1886, the club appointed Tom Watson as their first manager, and under Watson the team won the Football League First Division three times in four seasons.[2] The percentage of games won under Watson remains the highest of all time for a Sunderland manager. Watson left to manage Liverpool and was replaced by Robert Campbell, but the new manager failed to continue the success of his predecessor. The next three managers, Alex Mackie, Bob Kyle and Johnny Cochrane, each won the First Division title while at the club. Kyle's 817 games in charge, spread over 19 full seasons either side of the First World War, make him Sunderland's longest-serving manager.[3] Cochrane led the club to their first FA Cup victory, beating Preston North End 3–1 in the 1937 final.[4] The closest they had come in previous seasons was as losing finalists in 1913 under Kyle.[5]
After Cochrane, no manager won a trophy until Bob Stokoe led the team to their second FA Cup with a 1–0 win over Leeds United in the 1973 FA Cup Final.[6] Stokoe took Sunderland into European competition for the first time in their history, but they were knocked out in the second round of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup by Sporting Clube de Portugal.[7] Len Ashurst led Sunderland to their first League Cup final, which they lost 1–0 to Norwich City, but relegation brought him the sack at the end of the season.[8][9] Under Lawrie McMenemy, Sunderland were relegated to the Third Division for the first time in their history.[10] Following this, Denis Smith was named as manager, and saw the club back into the Second Division.[11]
Peter Reid brought Sunderland to the Premier League for the first time in their history in the 1996–97 season, but they were relegated in their debut season.[12] The team progressed as far as the Division One play-off final in 1998, drawing 4–4 after extra time before losing 7–6 on penalties,[13] and went one step further the following season, winning promotion as champions with a record total, at that time, of 105 points.[14] Still led by Reid, they went on to achieve their highest place finish in the Premier League, finishing seventh in two consecutive seasons, and narrowly missed out on a UEFA Cup place.[15] In 2002–03, Sunderland had three different managers, with Reid, Howard Wilkinson and, towards the end of the season, Mick McCarthy; the club ended that season with a then record low total of 19 points.[15] Under McCarthy, a third-place finish in the Championship earned Sunderland a place in the 2003–04 play-offs, only to lose to Crystal Palace in the semi-finals;[16] in 2004–05, they were promoted as champions, clinching the title with a 2–1 win over West Ham.[17] In March 2006, McCarthy was sacked in a season where Sunderland gained just 15 points, breaking their previous record, with former player Kevin Ball taking over as caretaker manager for the remaining games.[18] Following a takeover of the club, incoming chairman Niall Quinn acted as manager until Roy Keane's appointment three weeks into the 2006–07 season.[19] Keane went on to win the Championship title in his first season of management.[20] After keeping the side in the Premier League, he resigned in December 2008 and Ricky Sbragia eventually assumed the role after a spell as caretaker.[21][22] Sbragia resigned immediately after the final match of the 2008–09 season, when Sunderland had achieved survival in the Premier League.[23] Wigan Athletic manager Steve Bruce was appointed as his successor in June 2009.[24] Having spent two-and-a-half years as manager, Bruce was sacked on 30 November 2011.[25] Martin O'Neill, a boyhood fan of the club, was appointed as manager on 3 December 2011. Sunderland's form soon took off, picking up 27 points in O'Neill's first 18 league games in charge, as well as reaching an FA Cup quarter-final. However, the team underperformed during the 2012–13 season, and on 30 March 2013, O'Neill was sacked. The following day on 31 March 2013, Paolo Di Canio was appointed on a 2+1⁄2-year contract. Di Canio was sacked less than six months later with Sunderland bottom of the Premier League.[26]
Key
[edit]
Key to record:
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Managers
[edit]- As of 13 December 2023. Only professional, competitive matches are counted, including; League, FA Cup, League Cup and other cup competitions. Dates for earlier years are only months because of unclear statistics.
Name | Nationality | From | To | M | W | D | L | Win % | Honours | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
– | November 1880 | August 1889 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 66.7 | [27] | ||
Tom Watson | ![]() |
August 1889 | August 1896 | 191 | 119 | 28 | 44 | 62.3 | Football League First Division champions 1891–92, 1892–93, 1894–95 | [28] |
Robert Campbell | ![]() |
August 1896 | April 1899 | 103 | 41 | 22 | 40 | 39.8 | [29] | |
Alex Mackie | ![]() |
August 1899 | April 1905 | 214 | 104 | 46 | 64 | 48.6 | Football League First Division champions 1901–02, Sheriff of London Charity Shield champions 1902–03 | [30] |
Bob Kyle | ![]() |
August 1905 | May 1928 | 817 | 371 | 155 | 291 | 45.4 | Football League First Division champions 1912–13 | [31] |
Johnny Cochrane | ![]() |
June 1928 | March 1939 | 500 | 212 | 122 | 166 | 42.4 | Football League First Division champions 1935–36, FA Cup winners 1936–37 | [32] |
– | March 1939 | March 1939 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 40.0 | [27] | ||
Bill Murray | ![]() |
April 1939 | June 1957 | 512 | 186 | 140 | 186 | 36.3 | [33] | |
Alan Brown | ![]() |
August 1957 | July 1964 | 332 | 138 | 88 | 106 | 41.6 | [34] | |
– | August 1964 | November 1964 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 16.7 | [27] | ||
George Hardwick (caretaker) | ![]() |
November 1964 | April 1965 | 29 | 14 | 3 | 12 | 48.3 | [35] | |
Ian McColl | ![]() |
August 1965 | February 1968 | 124 | 39 | 27 | 58 | 31.5 | [36] | |
Alan Brown | ![]() |
February 1968 | November 1972 | 219 | 63 | 68 | 88 | 28.8 | [34] | |
Billy Elliott (caretaker) | ![]() |
November 1972 | November 1972 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | [37] | |
Bob Stokoe | ![]() |
23 November 1972 | 18 October 1976 | 197 | 92 | 49 | 56 | 46.7 | FA Cup winners 1972–73, Football League Second Division champions 1975–76 | [38] |
Ian MacFarlane (caretaker) | ![]() |
18 October 1976 | 1 December 1976 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 28.6 | [39] | |
Jimmy Adamson | ![]() |
1 December 1976 | 25 October 1978 | 88 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 33.0 | [40] | |
David Merrington (caretaker) | ![]() |
25 October 1978 | 13 December 1978 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0 | [41] | |
Billy Elliott | ![]() |
13 December 1978 | 24 May 1979 | 26 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 53.8 | [37] | |
Ken Knighton | ![]() |
7 June 1979 | 1 April 1981 | 94 | 34 | 25 | 35 | 36.2 | [42] | |
Mick Docherty (caretaker) | ![]() |
1 April 1981 | 1 June 1981 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 50.0 | [43] | |
Alan Durban | ![]() |
1 June 1981 | 2 March 1984 | 130 | 37 | 40 | 53 | 28.5 | [44] | |
Pop Robson (caretaker) | ![]() |
2 March 1984 | 4 March 1984 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | [45] | |
Len Ashurst | ![]() |
4 March 1984 | 23 May 1985 | 66 | 21 | 16 | 29 | 31.8 | [46] | |
Lawrie McMenemy | ![]() |
8 June 1985 | 16 April 1987 | 90 | 27 | 24 | 39 | 30.0 | [47] | |
Bob Stokoe (caretaker) | ![]() |
16 April 1987 | 9 June 1987 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 33.3 | [38] | |
Denis Smith | ![]() |
9 June 1987 | 30 December 1991 | 238 | 91 | 64 | 83 | 38.2 | Football League Third Division champions 1987–88 | [48] |
Malcolm Crosby | ![]() |
30 December 1991 | 28 January 1993 | 60 | 21 | 15 | 24 | 35.0 | [49] | |
Terry Butcher | ![]() |
29 January 1993 | 26 November 1993 | 45 | 14 | 8 | 23 | 31.1 | [50] | |
Mick Buxton | ![]() |
26 November 1993 | 29 March 1995 | 76 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 32.9 | [51] | |
Peter Reid | ![]() |
29 March 1995 | 7 October 2002 | 353 | 159 | 95 | 99 | 45.0 | Football League First Division champions 1995–96, 1998–99 | [52] |
Howard Wilkinson | ![]() |
10 October 2002 | 10 March 2003 | 27 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 14.8 | [53] | |
Mick McCarthy | ![]() |
12 March 2003 | 6 March 2006 | 147 | 63 | 26 | 58 | 42.9 | Football League Championship champions 2004–05 | [54] |
Kevin Ball (caretaker) | ![]() |
7 March 2006 | 31 May 2006 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 10.0 | [55] | |
Niall Quinn | ![]() |
25 July 2006 | 30 August 2006 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 16.7 | [56] | |
Roy Keane | ![]() |
30 August 2006 | 4 December 2008 | 100 | 42 | 17 | 41 | 42.0 | Football League Championship champions 2006–07 | [57] |
Ricky Sbragia | ![]() |
4 December 2008 | 24 May 2009 | 26 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 23.1 | [58] | |
Steve Bruce | ![]() |
3 June 2009 | 30 November 2011 | 98 | 29 | 28 | 41 | 29.6 | [59] | |
Eric Black (caretaker) | ![]() |
30 November 2011 | 3 December 2011 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | [60] | |
Martin O'Neill | ![]() |
3 December 2011 | 30 March 2013 | 54 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 35.2 | [61] | |
Paolo Di Canio | ![]() |
31 March 2013 | 22 September 2013 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 23.1 | ||
Kevin Ball (caretaker) | ![]() |
22 September 2013 | 8 October 2013 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33.3 | [55] | |
Gus Poyet | ![]() |
8 October 2013 | 16 March 2015 | 75 | 23 | 22 | 30 | 30.7 | [62][63] | |
Dick Advocaat | ![]() |
17 March 2015 | 4 October 2015 | 19 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 21.1 | ||
Sam Allardyce | ![]() |
9 October 2015 | 22 July 2016 | 31 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 29.0 | [64] | |
David Moyes | ![]() |
23 July 2016 | 22 May 2017 | 43 | 8 | 7 | 28 | 18.6 | [65] | |
Simon Grayson | ![]() |
29 June 2017 | 31 October 2017 | 18 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 16.7 | [66] | |
Robbie Stockdale (caretaker) Billy McKinlay (caretaker) |
![]() ![]() |
31 October 2017 | 19 November 2017 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | [67] | |
Chris Coleman | ![]() |
19 November 2017 | 29 April 2018 | 29 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 17.2 | [68] | |
Robbie Stockdale (caretaker) | ![]() |
29 April 2018 | 25 May 2018 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0 | [67] | |
Jack Ross | ![]() |
25 May 2018 | 8 October 2019 | 75 | 38 | 27 | 10 | 50.7 | [69] | |
James Fowler (caretaker) | ![]() |
8 October 2019 | 17 October 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | [70] | ||
Phil Parkinson | ![]() |
17 October 2019 | 29 November 2020 | 31 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 35.5 | [71] | |
Andrew Taylor (caretaker) | ![]() |
30 November 2020 | 5 December 2020 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | [72] | |
Lee Johnson | ![]() |
5 December 2020 | 30 January 2022 | 78 | 40 | 20 | 18 | 51.3 | EFL Trophy champions 2020-21 | [73] |
Mike Dodds (caretaker) | ![]() |
2 February 2022 | 11 February 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | [74] | |
Alex Neil | ![]() |
11 February 2022 | 28 August 2022 | 19 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 57.9 | Football League One play-offs: 2022 | [75] |
Martin Canning (caretaker) | ![]() |
26 August 2022 | 30 August 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | [76] | |
Tony Mowbray | ![]() |
30 August 2022 | 4 December 2023 | 65 | 26 | 18 | 21 | 40.0 | 2023 Championship play-offs | [77] |
Mike Dodds (caretaker) | ![]() |
4 December 2023 | 18 December 2023 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.7 | [78] | |
Michael Beale | ![]() |
18 December 2023 | 19 February 2024 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 33.3 | [79] | |
Mike Dodds (caretaker) | ![]() |
19 February 2024 | 4 May 2024 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 15.4 | [80] | |
Régis Le Bris | ![]() |
1 July 2024 | present | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.0 | [81] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Happy Birthday Sunderland AFC – 136 Years Old!". Ryehill Football. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ "Past Manager Profile — Tom Watson". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 16 February 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Sunderland AFC Manager Summaries". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "FA Cup Final 1937". FA Cup Finals. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "FA Cup Final 1913". FA Cup Finals. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "FA Cup Final 1973". FA Cup Finals. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "1973–74 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup". UEFA. Archived from the original on 25 March 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "England — League Cup Finals 1961–2001". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- ^ "Past Managers 1979–1985". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 4 July 2008.
- ^ "Past Managers — Lawrie McMenemy". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "1980–99". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- ^ "1996/97 season". Premier League. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- ^ "Championship Play-Off — Final". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 2 June 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- ^ "1990–1999". Sunderland A.F.C. Archived from the original on 4 January 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- ^ a b "Sunderland AFC". Premier League. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- ^ "Football Club History Database — Sunderland". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- ^ "Football: Championship: Elliott sends Sunderland up as champions". The Guardian. 4 April 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2005.
- ^ "Sunderland sack manager McCarthy". BBC Sport. 6 March 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- ^ "Keane becomes new Sunderland boss". BBC Sport. 28 August 2006. Retrieved 4 July 2008.
- ^ Andrew McKenzie (29 April 2007). "Quinn astonished by Keane success". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Keane resigns as Sunderland boss". BBC Sport. 4 December 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
- ^ "Sbragia appointed Sunderland boss". BBC Sport. 27 December 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
- ^ "Sbragia resigns from Sunderland". BBC Sport. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
- ^ "Bruce named as Sunderland manager". BBC Sport. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
- ^ "Sunderland part company with manager". Sunderland A.F.C. 30 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
- ^ "Paolo Di Canio: Sunderland part company with Italian". BBC Sport. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ a b c "Managerless Period". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ "Tom Watson". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ "Robert Campbell". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ "Alex Mackie". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ "Bob Kyle". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ "Johnny Cochrane". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ "Bill Murray". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ a b "Alan Brown". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "George Hardwick". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Ian McColl". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ a b "Billy Elliott". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ a b "Bob Stokoe". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Ian MacFarlane". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Jimmy Adamson". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 8 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "David Merrington". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Ken Knighton". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Mick Docherty". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Alan Durban". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Pop Robson". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Len Ashurst". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Lawrie McMenemy". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 9 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Denis Smith". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Malcolm Crosby". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Terry Butcher". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Mick Buxton". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 8 July 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Peter Reid". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Howard Wilkinson". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
- ^ "Mick McCarthy". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 8 July 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ a b "Kevin Ball". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ "Niall Quinn". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 8 July 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ "Roy Keane". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
- ^ "Ricky Sbragia's managerial career". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
- ^ "Steve Bruce's managerial career". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
- ^ "Eric Black's managerial career". Soccerbase. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
- ^ "Martin O'Neill's managerial career". Soccerbase. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
- ^ "Gus Poyet: Sunderland name Uruguayan as head coach". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
- ^ "Gus Poyet: Sunderland sack manager after crisis talks". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
- ^ "Sunderland appoint Sam Allardyce as new manager on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ^ "David Moyes Statistics". Soccerbase. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
- ^ "Simon Grayson: Sunderland Appoint Preston North End Boss As Manager". BBC. 29 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Robbie Stockdale's managerial career". Soccerbase. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Coleman named new manager". Sunderland A.F.C. 19 November 2017.
- ^ "Jack Ross: Sunderland name St Mirren boss as new manager". BBC Sport. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ "Jack Ross: Sunderland manager sacked by League One club". BBC Sport. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "Phil Parkinson: Sunderland name ex-Bolton Wanderers boss as manager". BBC Sport. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ^ "Phil Parkinson: Sunderland 'part company' with manager after 13 months in charge". BBC Sport. 29 November 2020.
- ^ "Lee Johnson: Sunderland appoint former Bristol City boss as head coach". BBC Sport. 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Lee Johnson: Sunderland part company with boss following Bolton debacle". BBC Sport. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Alex Neil: Sunderland appoint ex-Norwich and Preston boss as new head coach". BBC Sport. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
- ^ "Alex Neil: Sunderland boss leaves to become Stoke City's new manager". BBC Sport. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Tony Mowbray: Sunderland appoint former West Brom and Blackburn manager as boss". BBC Sport. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ "Tony Mowbray: Sunderland sack head coach after 15 months in charge". BBC Sport. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
- ^ "Michael Beale: Sunderland appoint former Rangers boss as head coach". BBC Sport. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Michael Beale: Sunderland sack head coach after 12 games". BBC Sport. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "Régis Le Bris". Sunderland Association Football Club. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Manager details at The Stat Cat: Sunderland A.F.C. playing history
- Manager details at Soccerbase