Former Brighton boss Gus Poyet has been named
as Sunderland head coach on a two-year deal.
The Black Cats lie bottom of the Premier League and
sacked Paolo Di Canio in September after only 13
games.
"I look forward to proving my ability to the fans - I
want them to believe because we need to stick
together," Poyet, 45, told the club website.
He will be joined by his Brighton backroom team of
Mauricio Taricco and Charlie Oatway.
"I think the key behind my strong home record at
Brighton was the connection with the fans - I can see
that here," added Poyet, who was dismissed by the
Seagulls in June.
"It's a huge challenge but one I am excited about and I
am grateful for the opportunity to manage in the
Premier League."
The former Uruguay international becomes
Sunderland's sixth manager in five years.
"We analysed a wide range of candidates and believe
that Gus's track record, experience, commitment and
passion make him the right man to take us forward,"
said chairman Ellis Short.
Sunderland's senior professional development coach
Kevin Ball had been in temporary charge of the club
since Di Canio was relieved of his position following a
player revolt at the club.
Ball, 48, had asked to be considered for the job, but
said following the Wearside club's 2-1 defeat by
Manchester United on Saturday he did not expect to be
doing another post-match news conference any time
soon.
Ex-Chelsea and Tottenham player Poyet, who was
capped 26 times by his country, started his coaching
career in England in 2006 as assistant to Dennis Wise at
Swindon Town then Leeds United.
He joined Spurs as first-team coach after one year at
Elland Road, later becoming assistant manager to
Juande Ramos.
In 2009, he was appointed manager at Brighton,
leading the south coast club to promotion from League
One then taking them to last season's Championship
play-off semi-final, where they were beaten by eventual
winners Crystal Palace.
He was suspended by Brighton in May after an internal
investigation and disciplinary hearing and sacked a
month later for gross misconduct.
The full reasons for his sacking have not been revealed
by either party, with Brighton saying the matter would
stay confidential "to ensure and maintain
confidentiality and dignity" after the former Chelsea
midfielder's unsuccessful appeal against his dismissal.
He said in August he was taking legal action against
Brighton over the decision to dismiss him.
Poyet, who has no experience of management in the
top flight, made no secret of his interest in the job at
the Stadium of Light, and recently said: "I planned that,
over the first matches of this season, I would pay a lot
of attention to the teams I thought could be in trouble.
"Of course, I watch Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester, but
there was a group of teams who, if they didn't start
well, I thought I could have a chance.
"I was watching Sunderland a lot. People were talking a
lot about them in the summer because of Paolo and
how many new players they had, so I have seen quite a
lot of them."
Poyet will be the fourth manager to have worked under
owner and chairman Short, since the American
businessman assumed 100% control of the club in
2009.
Steve Bruce was sacked in November 2011 after two
wins in the first 13 league games of that season, before
successor Martin O'Neill suffered the same fate last
March, with the Black Cats a point above the relegation
zone.
Di Canio replaced the Northern Irishman and helped
Sunderland to wins over Newcastle and Everton,
although the side failed to win any of their last three
fixtures, finishing the season in 17th.
The Italian manager spent £19m in the summer, but
was sacked with the club bottom having picked up one
point from the first five league games during the
2013-14 campaign.
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