Next Sunderland manager: Who could replace Mike Dodds?
When Mike Dodds’s temporary tenure as Sunderland’s manager draws to an end, who is the front-runner to take over as manager? Under his miserable interim leadership, Mike Dodds led Sunderland to an eventual 16th-place finish in the Championship, making it a season to forget for the Black Cats.
Sunderland finished a shocking 17 points outside of the top six this season, while the team that was participating in the second-tier play-offs under Tony Mowbray’s leadership last season lost to Luton Town in the semifinals despite winning the home leg.
After a 2-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday, the team’s run of six straight losses under Dodds’ leadership was especially bad, and it was a relief when the season was eventually ended. It appeared doubtful that Dodds would be given the full-time position at the end of the season after he managed just one goal in the whole month of April.
As a result, Sunderland will now be looking for a replacement who can turn things around on the pitch and raise morale. In light of that, who may the Wearside outfit’s decision-makers choose to start in the dugout next? Here are ten applicants who have been connected to the Sunderland position; one of them was recently cut at this level and the other is an ex-player for Newcastle United.
1Will Still
Free agent (Last job: Stade de Reims)
Former Stade de Reims manager Will Still is currently the favourite to take over the reins from a disappointing Dodds, with Sunderland eyeing up the Belgian head coach for some time now.
Still’s name was being talked about out for the job when the disastrous reign of Michael Beale was put out of its misery before Dodds took on his interim duties, and there are many valid reasons why his name keeps floating about for this vacancy.
Only 31 years of age, Still could be the perfect face to take over and transform this equally raw and young group of players, with his CV in France seeing him take Reims to 11th in Ligue 1 and masterminding a much-talked-about 19-game unbeaten streak.
He could well feel it is time to finally take on the Sunderland job, with the odds pointing in the direction that he’s the most plausible Dodds successor out there.
2Bo Svensson
Free agent (Last job: Mainz)
Bo Svensson is another unlikely candidate to take over as the next Black Cats manager. He last managed in the German Bundesliga and was in charge of Mainz, where Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp began their managerial careers.
Svensson, who won 39 games for Mainz in 109 appearances before being fired late last year, would be interested in moving to England to follow in this pair’s path. Expect Sunderland to make an approach for the Dane if they are unable to reach an agreement to appoint Still.
3Rene Maric
Bayern Munich U19s
The first manager on this list to still be tied down to a club, Bayern Munich U19s coach Rene Maric knows all too well the dramas of football in England, having been assistant manager to Jesse Marsch at Leeds United for a brief stint.
Away from that association, Maric has garnered a reputation for being an attack-minded coach in Germany, with his U19s side netting 26 goals this season in league action from 11 games.
If the Sunderland hierarchy want to raise the excitement levels, they could well approach the daring 31-year-old, who could well end up being their very own Danny Rohl, who joined Sheffield Wednesday from the Bavarian giants to great success.
4Paul Heckingbottom
Free agent (Last job: Sheffield United)
Paul Heckingbottom, the former manager of Sheffield United, is the first person on the list with significant experience in the EFL and has a good chance of succeeding Dodds at the Stadium of Light.
Even though Heckingbottom left the Blades in the bottom spot of the Premier League at the end of his spell at Bramall Lane, he did manage to lead the team to promotion, so that at least counts against his resume.
If the former Barnsley manager is called in, Jobe Bellingham might perform even better, making the most of young attacking players like Iliman Ndiaye, who scored 14 goals in his final season at Bramall Lane and was a dynamic player when in the Blades dugout.
Leave a Reply