Advocaat resigns

[Part-Timer]

Sunderland manager resigns after 8 games to give everyone time to turn things around.

[bennythedip2]

Dick Advocaat leaves Sunderland (October 4th - 2015)

Dick Advocaat has left his job as Sunderland's head coach just four months after being persuaded to delay his retirement plans for a year.


The 68-year-old Dutchman, who was parachuted in to mastermind a nine-game rescue mission at the end of the last campaign, has walked away with the club sitting in 19th place in the Barclays Premier League on three points after winning none of their opening eight fixtures following Saturday's 2-2 draw with West Ham at the Stadium of Light.

Advocaat's departure was confirmed in a club statement which said: "Sunderland AFC has announced that Dick Advocaat has left his position as head coach at the club. The Dutchman informed the chairman of his decision to step down from his role and departs the Stadium of Light with immediate effect."

Dick Advocaat "I want to thank everyone who has stood behind me. This is a very special football club with so many great people, but I feel it is the right time to do this - not for me, but for the club."
Dick Advocaat

It's understood the former Holland boss, who refused to discuss his future after the game, had decided to go whatever the result.

It leaves the Black Cats in a state of flux once again with sporting director Lee Congerton understood to be working a period of notice after tendering his resignation.

S'land

S'land 2 - 2 West Ham
Man Utd 3 - 0 S'land
S'land 1 - 4 Man City
B'mouth 2 - 0 S'land
S'land 0 - 1 Tottenham
A Villa 2 - 2 S'land
S'land 6 - 3 Exeter
S'land 1 - 1 Swansea
S'land 1 - 3 Norwich
Leicester 4 - 2 S'land

S'land Results

But as he departed, Advocaat said: "I want to thank everyone who has stood behind me. This is a very special football club with so many great people, but I feel it is the right time to do this - not for me, but for the club.

"I have made the decision to go after only eight games as I felt it was important to give everyone time to turn things around - like we did last year. I am thankful to the chairman (Ellis Short) for understanding my feelings and I remain on good terms with everyone at the club.

"I wish Ellis, Lee, all of the staff, players and of course the supporters, who made me feel so welcome here, the very best of luck for the rest of the season. I have some wonderful memories to take with me and I hope I will return to see everybody again in the future."

Advocaat's number two Zeljko Petrovic has also left the club.

Short, who is now embarking on the search for a replacement, said: "I am truly saddened by Dick's decision, but I respect him for his honesty and for doing what he feels is right for the club.

S'land

W Brom v S'land
S'land v Newcastle
Everton v S'land
S'land v So'ton
C Palace v S'land

S'land Fixtures

"He is a man of integrity and a true football person. He was hugely respectful of the club in taking this decision and he acted 100 per cent in our best interests.

"It is also testament to his character that he has foregone any kind of a financial settlement, something which is very unusual in football.

"I want to place on record my sincere thanks to Dick. He will be remembered with great affection by everyone at Sunderland and there will always be a warm welcome for him here at the Stadium of Light.

"While this isn't a situation any of us envisaged being in, what is important now is that we regroup quickly and focus on the rest of the season."

Former Sunderland defender Sam Allardyce is the early favourite for the job, while Burnley's Sean Dyche, Karl Robinson of MK Dons and Burton's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink are other names in contention.

Former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson is available, while there is a romantic school of thought touting Wearside goal hero Kevin Phillips as an outsider.


The current season is the club's ninth since their return to the top flight under Roy Keane, and they are now looking for their seventh permanent manager or head coach since the former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland skipper resigned in December 2008.

They can boast only one top-10 finish during that period - they secured 10th place with 47 points under Steve Bruce at the end of the 2010-11 campaign - and have flirted with relegation in each of the last three seasons with Di Canio, Poyet and Advocaat each dragging them back from the brink.

Indeed, they have won just 26 of the 114 Premier League games they have played since the start of the 2012-13 season, and with the new £5.14billion broadcasting deal due to come into force next year, life back in the Sky Bet Championship is simply not an option.

The international break will give the club time to recruit a replacement, who would ideally be in place some time before the trip to West Brom on October 17.

His second game would be a home clash with the Magpies, who coincidentally provided the opposition for Paolo Di Canio, Gus Poyet and Advocaat at the same stage of their respective tenures with all three enjoying famous victories.

Sunderland manager contenders

We look at some of the contenders who could fill the vacancy left by Dick Advocaat.

SAM ALLARDYCE

One of the safest pairs of hands around, the hugely experienced Allardyce, a former Sunderland defender, is available after his four-year spell at West Ham drew to a close at the end of last season. His proven track record with Bolton, Blackburn and the Hammers - if not Newcastle - make him a leading contender.

NIGEL PEARSON

Pearson performed miracles as Leicester won seven of their final nine games to secure their top-flight status at the end of last season. He is available after leaving the King Power Stadium during the summer.

SEAN DYCHE

Dyche's blend of positivity, realism and entertaining football during Burnley's ultimately unsuccessful bid to secure their Barclays Premier League status last season won him plenty of plaudits. He seems destined for bigger things, but his loyalty to the Clarets could prove an obstacle.

KARL ROBINSON

Robinson celebrated five years at the MK Dons helm in May and guided the club into the Sky Bet Championship last season as runners-up to Bristol City after twice missing out in the play-offs. At just 35, he is one of the rising stars of the managerial game.

JIMMY FLOYD HASSELBAINK

Former Leeds, Chelsea and Middlesbrough striker Hasselbaink led Burton to the League Two title last season after only taking over the club in November, and the promoted club currently top League One after 11 games. Like Di Canio and Poyet, he was a fine player and has enjoyed an encouraging start to his managerial career, but also like them, he is short on experience.

WALTER MAZZARRI

Former Inter Milan boss Mazzarri has been linked with Sunderland, as well as Liverpool, in recent days, and is reportedly learning English. However, the Black Cats had their fingers burnt the last time they pointed an Italian, albeit one without Mazzarri's curriculum vitae.

KEVIN PHILLIPS

A man who would need no introduction to fans who revered him for his goalscoring exploits in the red and white shirt, Phillips has embarked on a career in coaching since hanging up his boots. However, he is another whose lack of experience may count against him.

[Tony2005]

BIG SAM

Evens fav to take over........