John O’Shea has been asked whether he would like to manage Sunderland in the future.
Despite being most known for his 13-year stint at Manchester United where he picked up five league titles, John O’Shea also spend a large chunk of his career with Sunderland.
The former defender joined the Black Cats in 2011 and made 256 appearances, playing a key role in their narrow escapes from relegation and also their journey to the League Cup final.
O’Shea even stayed for a year in the Championship, before leaving to join Reading in 2018.
The 42-year-old is now years into his coaching career, having spent time in the backroom staff of Reading, Stoke City, Republic of Ireland and Birmingham City.
O’Shea departed St Andrews when Wayne Rooney was sacked earlier this year, before becoming interim manager of his home country in February.
O’Shea has overseen a draw to Belgium and a defeat to Switzerland, but his stint as manager isn’t likely to last long as the Irish FA search for a permanent replacement.
Does John O’Shea want to return to Sunderland?
The former centre-back is still looking ahead though and has now been asked whether he would consider returning to Sunderland.
Speaking on Sam Allardyce’s No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, O’Shea said: “Look, when you think I was there for six, seven years… it’s an amazing club. It really is an amazing club. We had an amazing time up there, but it’s a tricky one.
“Yeah, ultimately I’d love to be Sunderland manager, but I spoke to Tony Mowbray when he came into Birmingham about the model that they have there at the minute. In terms of, they’re really going for young players.
“The thing for me is, it’s a great idea on paper… the classic one, you look at Bayer Leverkusen. Xabi Alonso, the first thing he said was ‘right, I need experience’. He goes and gets Xhaka. So you kind of have to have a mix.
“Yeah, you need to get young players in, they’re right, and the assets to sell on and all of that idea. It’s brilliant, but the cutthroat nature of getting promoted, getting back to the Premier League, staying there and making your mark again… you need it, you need a blend of youth and experience.”
Sunderland’s model could ruin their manager hunt
John O’Shea is just saying what every Sunderland fan already thinks, and if a former footballer and current international coach is thinking it, then what does every other coach that joins Sunderland or is approached about the vacancy thinking?
Tony Mowbray was clearly put off by our model eventually and that is partially why he left, while Michael Beale only really took the job on a coaching level, rather than having anything to do with the management side of things.
Sunderland clearly want a certain type of head coach next, but if they are still telling them that they will continue to only sign young players then that will surely be an instant red flag for them.
Any potential coach will know they are already at a disadvantage in next season’s race for promotion because we lack leaders and experience.
I do think Kristjaan Speakman will have learnt his lesson now though and perhaps he is prepared to make a few tweaks when bringing in our next manager.