BO SVENSSON has emerged as the latest candidate to be connected with Sunderland’s open head coach position, as the odds of attracting Danny Rohl to the Stadium of Light have faded dramatically in recent days.
Svensson, a 44-year-old former Denmark international, is believed to be one of the managers still being considered as Kristjaan Speakman and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus decide who would succeed Mike Dodds next season.
Svensson began his coaching career in Austria’s second division with FC Liefering, a feeder club for Red Bull Salzburg, before being appointed head coach of Bundesliga team Mainz in January 2021.
He took over a troubled team in the relegation zone, but he led Mainz to safety in the second half of the season before overseeing consecutive top-half finishes in his two full seasons in command.
He resigned by mutual accord in November, following Mainz’s terrible start to the season, and has remained unemployed since. The German media earlier stated that he would be willing to relocate to England and work in the Championship, and there is thought to have been communication between the Dane and senior Sunderland executives.
At this point, however, Speakman and Louis-Dreyfus are still considering their alternatives, with former Reims manager Will Still and Bayern Munich Under-19s coach Rene Maric still on their shortlist.
Rohl rose to prominence after leading Sheffield Wednesday to safety in the second part of the season, and the Sunderland leadership is said to have been impressed by the 35-year-old’s performance at Hillsborough.
It appeared that Rohl would depart the Owls this summer, questioning whether the club’s aim matched his own. Wednesday, on the other hand, is desperate to maintain their German head coach, and productive negotiations last week have increased the likelihood that Rohl will remain in his current position next season.
Rohl met with Wednesday chairman Dejphon Chansiri last week before embarking on an end-of-season vacation.
To make matters even more complicated for Sunderland, it has been revealed that Rohl’s current contract would require almost £5 million in compensation to remove the Owls manager from Hillsborough. The sum is reported to be double if Rohl’s close-knit coaching staff departs with him.
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