An EFL pundit has claimed Sunderland could repeat Watford’s recent success by hiring a 41-year-old coach.
Sunderland have been searching for their new permanent manager since Michael Beale was sacked over two months ago.
Reports have now claimed they will step up their search in the ‘immediate aftermath’ of this weekend’s final day clash with Sheffield Wednesday.
It would appear the club have whittled their shortlist down to three names – with Danny Rohl, Rene Maric and Will Still all catching the eye of the Wearside outfit.
There is no guarantee that they will be able to land any of them though, with all three currently employed.
Sunderland could yet look elsewhere for their new head coach, while former striker Jermain Defoe has thrown his name into the hat.
Earlier this week, the 41-year-old admitted he had held informal talks with Sunderland and that he would be interested in returning to the Stadium of Light.
Defoe also made a bizarre claim that Jack Clarke would choose to stay at Sunderland if he was appointed – a claim that many fans refuse to believe.
While most have shrugged off Defoe’s links with the managerial vacancy, pundit Justin Peach has explained how the Black Cats could follow in Watford’s footsteps with his arrival.
Jermain Defoe could follow in the footsteps of Tom Cleverley
Speaking on the Second Tier Pod, Peach said: “All jokes aside… I love Jermain Defoe, I do like the idea of it. He’s got some balls as well to talk about it, because he’s forcing the club’s hand a little bit to give him a call back. But he did the same player-to-coach course that Tom Cleverley did and obviously he’s doing quite well at Watford. I’m not going to say that will transpire to success for Jermain Defoe, but he does have success with Spurs U18s.
“He’s a legend at Sunderland, played under some incredible coaches and managers. Do they need someone with a little bit more experience than Defoe? I think that might help. But they won’t get a manager with as big a balls as Defoe, calling out Sunderland, so there you go.”
Another uninspiring appointment from Sunderland
After spending six years at Watford as a player, Tom Cleverley retired last year and initially took up a position with their U18s side.
The former midfielder was then named as interim head coach following Valerien Ismael’s sacking in March, before he was given the role permanently six weeks later.
The Hornets have lost only one game under Cleverley, picking up eleven points from a possible 27.
While Watford have managed to avoid defeat against the likes of Leeds United and West Brom, and have also kept four clean sheets, I think it’s fair to say Sunderland certainly don’t want their own version of Cleverley.
Jermain Defoe could well be a very good coach in the future, but the Black Cats are supposed to be ambitious, and appointing him simply wouldn’t match that.
Thankfully, the interest between Sunderland and Defoe seems to be very one-sided and it is unlikely to materialise into anything other than just talk.