A former Premier League manager is reportedly ‘not under consideration’ to become the next Sunderland manager.
Sunderland remain in the midst of a managerial search which has nearly spanned four months now.
The Black Cats sacked Michael Beale on February 19th after the former QPR and Rangers boss claimed just four wins in 12 games as manager.
Mike Dodds took charge on an interim basis until the end of the season and would claim just two wins, with Sunderland finishing the campaign in 16th place of the Championship table.
Owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus recently revealed in a club statement that an appointment was ‘imminent’ despite having just missed out on Will Still to RC Lens.
Liam Rosenior would then withdraw himself from the running, with Sunderland seemingly at a loss in their hunt for a new manager.
Very few names who have been linked with Sunderland remain available; Rene Maric is yet to sign as Vincent Kompany’s no.2 at Bayern Munich, with QPR manager Marti Cifuentes linked, and unnamed candidates apparently in the running.
Chelsea legend Frank Lampard was speculatively linked on social media; he’s been out of work since leaving his position as Everton manager in January 2023.
But he’s not someone in contention to become the next Sunderland manager.
Frank Lampard not under consideration to be next Sunderland manager
Lampard, 45, was speculatively linked with the Sunderland manager job by fans on social media, following the prolonged and painstaking search for Beale’s successor.
The possibility divided many; some thought Lampard’s stature and history as a player would’ve served him well in a youthful Sunderland side, whilst others were unimpressed by his records as Chelsea and Everton manager.
But Lampard is not someone in the running to become the next Sunderland manager, per Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie who posted on X:
Who is the front-runner to become the next Sunderland manager
Time is certainly ticking away for Louis-Dreyfus and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, who are now under huge scrutiny at the Stadium of Light.
Regardless of who they hire as the next Sunderland manager, the pair have lost a lot of credibility and faith among fans over this agonising search for a new manager.
And Louis-Dreyfus’ statement about a managerial appointment being ‘imminent’ has only served to make the matter worse.
Right now, it doesn’t seem as though Sunderland have a front-runner, especially so with Lampard not being someone in the running.
Maric may be, logically speaking, a leading candidate, given the fact that he’s actually linked with the job and yet to sign a new deal with Bayern Munich.
Cifuentes also seems like a leading candidate, but he’d cost Sunderland a six-figure compensation fee.
But it feels more likely that Sunderland will make a rogue appointment out of the blue in the coming weeks.