Sunderland’s hunt for a new manager rumbles on and although the temptation is there to offer Liam Rosenior the role, there are several reasons why they should avoid the 39-year-old.
It’s been three months since Sunderland sacked Michael Beale and the Black Cats are no closer to appointing a new manager.
Will Still appeared to be their number one target but it’s now looking ‘increasingly unlikely’ they’ll appoint the 31-year-old.
In what has been a deeply frustrating week for Sunderland, who have seen targets such as Still, Bo Svensson and Paul Heckingbottom potentially on their way to other clubs, salt was rubbed into the wounds even further when Danny Rohl committed his future to Sheffield Wednesday.
With the German claiming there’s nowhere else he’d rather be than Hillsborough, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is back to square one in his pursuit of a new manager.
Liam Rosenior, who was sacked by Hull City at the start of May, is another name who has been linked to the post but there are several reasons why they should avoid the Englishman.
Why Sunderland should avoid hiring Liam Rosenior
Liam Rosenior is a “fabulous” young manager learning his trade in the game.
He was hired by Hull in November 2022 and dragged them to a 15th-place finish before narrowly missing out on the playoffs by three points last term. This was seen as solid progression from the supporters yet it wasn’t enough to keep his job.
Owner Acun Ilicali made the shock decision to sack Rosenior after failing to finish in the top six, a decision that shocked the entire footballing world.
It seemed ludicrous to part ways with the 39-year-old who was building a project in East Yorkshire while attracting several talented youngsters to the club, including Liam Delap, Fabio Carvalho and Tyler Morton.
However, his failure to get play-offs with one of the best squads in the division was partly the reason he was sacked while his alarming home record and stubbornness tactically didn’t help his cause.
Hull placed 13th in the Championship for points accrued at home (33) and although they played some excellent passing football, supporters criticised their unwillingness to attack.
This claim is reinforced by the Tigers making the most passes in their half of any side. A lot of the possession they had was pointless and even late on in games when they were chasing a goal, Hull would still be holding possession in the opponent’s half while Rosenior would refuse to change the game tactically.
If Sunderland fans want to watch bright, front-foot attacking football, Rosenior isn’t the man to deliver that at the Stadium of Light and there are current question marks over his pedigree.
If Sunderland’s aim is the play-offs, Rosenior isn’t the man
According to Transfermarkt, Rosenior had the fourth most expensive squad in the Championship at his disposal last term.
The Tigers even signed Carvalho on loan from Liverpool in January who scored nine goals, yet they still didn’t get play-offs.
After how Rosenior failed to get the best out of his attacking players, you have to question whether he would turn Jack Clarke and Patrick Roberts into better talents, with his track record suggesting he’d struggle.
Rosenior ultimately failed at the MKM Stadium after not delivering a top-six finish and if that is Sunderland’s ambition next season, they should be looking for a manager who is proven at this level.