Former Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has been quizzed on whether or not he’d return to the club.
Poyet, now 56, is currently out of work after ending his tenure as the Greece national team boss last month.
It comes nine years since the Uruguayan left Sunderland, following a two-year spell in which Poyet oversaw 75 games, winning 23, drawing 23, and losing 29.
Poyet’s 30.7% win ratio leaves him with a better win percentage than a lot of the managers around the same time, including Paolo Di Canio, Dick Advocaat, Sam Allardyce, David Moyes, Simon Grayson, and also Chris Coleman.
Since leaving the Stadium of Light, Poyet has taken charge of AEK Athens, Real Betis, Shanghai Shenhua, Bordeaux, Chilean outfit Universidad Catolica, and then the Greek national side.
Gus Poyet discusses Sunderland potential under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus
And speaking in a recent interview, Poyet has discussed the current state of affairs at Sunderland who are searching for a new manager.
Poyet said:
“Sunderland are a good club with a big fan base. Last season they overperformed by reaching the play-offs.
“Expectation became bigger as they came into this season and with a young squad they need time. Michael Beale came in and went and Michael Dodds’ second spell has been difficult.”
Beale’s Sunderland tenure was the second shortest of any manager, with Mike Dodds having overseen 10 games now in what is his third spell in interim charge.
So far, Dodds has won twice, drawing three, and losing five, although the Black Cats have lost just one of their last six now.
“With all the changes, it’s tough to progress as team needs stability now,” Poyet continued.
“This season’s finishing position is maybe where Sunderland were expected to finish last year, then this year to progress up the table.
“But now is a time for calm at Sunderland. They must have a vision for where they want to go and follow that path.
“The excellent young players need a head coach to guide them and they can push on next season.”
Gus Poyet on potential Sunderland return
Poyet then went on to discuss whether or not he’d return to the club, should he be given the chance.
To this, he simply replied:
“I am in touch with the Sunderland owners as I know them well. It’s a good club with lots of potential.”
Although Poyet was at Sunderland a few years before current co-owner Juan Sartori arrived, they both hail from the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, which perhaps explains the connection.
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus must take this stance on Gus Poyet
Sunderland owners Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Sartori, along with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman have a bi task ahead of them this summer.
The managerial appointment is the main task, followed by player sales and purchases.
The Black Cats desperately need to get this next appointment right after the whole Beale fiasco, and they can do that by hiring a manager who’d go down well among fans.
Someone like Will Still would be a favourable appointment among supporters, whereas Poyet might not be.
Whilst he did a decent job on Wearside and is experienced, Sunderland need to be more innovative; Poyet hasn’t managed in England since he left the Black Cats in 2015.
If Sunderland hire Poyet then there could be a backlash among the fanbase which would surely set Poyet up for failure, as was the case with Beale.
So whilst he may have connections within the Sunderland boardroom and experience on his CV, it feels like a Poyet return is both unlikely and unnecessary.
