EPL

Giggs, Karanka, Ranieri & 10 other managers in contention for Sunderland job

After Former Manchester United manager David Moyes walked away from his Sunderland post, The Black Cats will take their time in finding a successor for David Moyes.

Garry Monk and Aitor Karanka are among contenders for the role Moyes leaves without taking the year’s salary that he was due.

Moyes was almost ten months into a four year contract and walking away from a ÂŁ3m pay-off.

Kevin Phillips

The former striker has plenty of clubs on his playing CV but is a bona fide club legend after playing more than 200 games for the Black Cats.

He also won the European Golden Shoe for his 30-goal tally in the 1999-2000 season.

Now 43, Phillips has been developing his coaching chops since taking on a coaching role after his retirement at Leicester.

He took a role under now Swansea boss Paul Clement at Derby County in 2015 and remains first team coach under manager Gary Rowett.

 

Kevin Phillips during his heyday at Sunderland – he’s now a coach at Derby (Photo: Daily Mirror)

Aitor Karanka

The Spanish former defender is high on the list of contenders for the Stadium of Light role.

It would be an impressive bounceback after his sacking from Middlesbrough before the end of the Premier League season with the club on their way to relegation.

Replacement Steve Agnew wasn’t able to arrest the slide and the club returns to the Championship, which Karanka led them from after joining the club in 2013.

Boro was his first job in charge of a club after first managing the Spain Under-16s before joining close friend Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid as an assistant.

 

Axed Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka is among the top contenders (Photo: Dan Mullan)

Nigel Pearson 

Nigel Pearson expressed interest in the Middlesbrough job when speaking on Goals on Sunday last week but could be a decent option for another relegated club.

A connection to the club, having finished his playing career with a four-year stint there could also endear the 53-year-old to Boro fans.

But he’s third favourite with for Sunderland instead.

The former Leicester boss (twice), hasn’t worked since leaving Derby lagging in the Championship in October last year.

Pearson was connected to the job at the Stadium of Light in 2015 but said there was nothing in it and the club went with now Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce.

Nigel Pearson hasn’t worked since he left Derby last year (Photo: Getty)

Garry Monk

Another option linked with the role in 2015 before his sacking from Swansea City.

He’s also among the names being bandied about by Sunderland fans.

Monk replaced Steve Evans at Leeds last year and led them to a disappointing seventh – five points outside the play-off places.

 

Garry Monk will have to be enticed from Leeds (Photo: PA Wire)

Ryan Giggs

Some bookies have the Manchester United legend as favourite for the role at Sunderland after he impressed when replacing David Moyes briefly.

It would be a bold appointment for a club that will be wanting to be straight back into the Premier League to bring in a first-time boss.

Experience in every other aspect of the game isn’t lacking though, with his role as assistant to Louis van Gaal after the interim-manager stint surely valuable.

He was considered for the top job at Old Trafford but left after Jose Mourinho was brought in.

Could Sunderland be Ryan Giggs’ first full-time gig – some have him as favourite (Photo: Getty)

 

The outsiders

Kevin Ball

When not stepping in as caretaker boss at Sunderland, which he’s done three times, Ball is the senior professional development coach.

Roy Keane

Could the Manchester United icon return to the Stadium of Light after citing differences with chairman Ellis Short as the reason for his departure in 2008.

The now Republic of Ireland assistant’s tough style wasn’t popular with players then but could be what they need now.

 

Sunderland manager Roy Keane both looking glum after a match at Old Trafford in September 2007
Roy Keane is being mentioned for a return to the Stadium of Light (Photo: BRADLEY ORMESHER)

Claudio Ranieri

Many say the sacking of the Italian after winning the Premier League title with Leicester was harsh, and now he’s being linked with a host of clubs.

Alan Pardew

Sacked as Crystal Palace boss after a poor start to the 2016-17 season. Could be a bold appointment given his previous role with fierce rivals Newcastle United but that didn’t stop Sam Allardyce.

Former Newcastle and Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew is available (Photo: PA)

David Wagner

The outcome of Monday’s Championship play-off final between Wagner’s Huddersfield Town and Reading at Wembley would, of course, have an impact on this conversation. But his work with the Terriers has put the German very much on the radar for any club.

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