A Sunderland manager candidate has responded to reports of interest in him.
Sunderland are on the hunt for their next manager after the club sacked Michael Beale last month, then placing Mike Dodds in charge until the summer.
Reims boss Will Still continues to be linked with Sunderland, and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman recently suggested that the Black Cats would be prepared to pay compensation for the right man.
Still would require a compensation fee and so too would Danny Rohl.
Sunderland have shortlisted Sheffield Wednesday boss Rohl ahead of the summer, following the German’s impressive turnaround in South Yorkshire.
Who is Danny Rohl
Rohl, at 34 years old, is currently the youngest manager in the Football League.
Formerly a coach with all of RB Leipzig, Southampton, Bayern Munich and Germany, Rohl has won 12 of his 30 games in charge of Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls were winless before Rohl took over in October, and now they have 38 points on the board and could even finish above Sunderland in the Championship.
He plays a very high-pressing game with a lot of focus on wing-backs and wingers.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl responds to Sunderland links
Speaking to the press ahead of his side’s Championship clash vs Swansea City on Friday, Rohl was quizzed on these emerging Sunderland links.
He told The Star:
“Honestly, I said this some weeks before, that my focus is 100 per cent on the next eight game. What happens with the next game is the difficult one and all the rumours around me are not important. They are rumours, everybody can speak and write something. My focus is here at Sheffield Wednesday, my focus is on my team and my focus is to achieve our goals with this club.”
Reports suggest that Rohl is under contract at Sheffield Wednesday until the end of next season.
Asked whether he’ll remain with the Owls ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, Rohl said:
“What can you say? I can say that at the moment I am very happy here at Sheffield Wednesday. I enjoy the club and the supporters. I know how strong the relationship is and this is a key point for me as well. I have a good group here around me and I know what I want to do here. I know what we have to do in the summer to make a step forward. There are other things.
“The focus must be really clear when we look at our goals for the season. This is important for all those next steps.”
Kristjaan Speakman will have an eye on Sheffield Wednesday’s fortunes this season
There’s eight games of the Championship season left to play now.
Whilst Speakman, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and co will be fully focussed on how Sunderland finish and set themselves up for next season, he may also have an eye on Rohl at Sheffield Wednesday.
The Owls currently sit in 23rd but need just a point to bring themselves out of the drop zone.
Wednesday have won five of their last eight face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on the final day of the season, which could yet be a deciding fixture for the Owls, maybe even for the Black Cats too.
Though if Wednesday are relegated then it surely opens up the door for Rohl to leave.
He remains a very well-regarded coach despite his lack of experience, and unlike names like Still, Rohl has prior experience of the Championship now.
Sunderland return to action vs Cardiff City on Friday.