Michael Beale: Sunderland confirm appointment of ex-Rangers boss as new head coach
Sunderland has officially announced Michael Beale as their new head coach with a deal that will keep him committed until summer 2026.
After being fired by Rangers, the 43-year-old has now been chosen as Tony Mowbray's replacement at the Stadium of Light, officially announced after an 11-week gap.
Sunderland talked to a group of possible contenders, including Will Still, manager of Reims, after Mowbray left. Eventually, they chose Beale as the most suitable candidate for the position.
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According to Beale, he feels incredibly grateful to become a part of Sunderland family. He expressed his thanks to Kyril (Louis-Dreyfus), Kristjaan (Speakman), and the whole executive team for believing in his potential and entrusting him with important duties.
The current group of coaches deserve a lot of praise for managing the transitional phase. They, along with all the other personnel at the club, will remain crucial going forward. The loyal and fantastic fans of SAFC contribute to the club's rich history and set it apart from others.
There is definitely some impressive work happening among the club's higher-ups and those in charge of developing young talent. I'm enthusiastic about lending my support to those endeavors and incorporating my own fresh concepts as we continue to build upon the club's already-solid identity.
Earlier this month, Sunderland and Mowbray decided to end their collaboration. This decision was made two days after a game against Millwall, in which they drew 1-1. This result means that they have only won one game out of their last five games.
Before their loss against Bristol City last Saturday, Mike Dodds guided the club to victory against West Brom and Leeds, earning them two wins. As a result, they currently sit in seventh place in the Championship table, only three points away from the play-off spots.
Dodds is now working as the assistant head coach for Beale, while Michael Proctor and Alessandro Barcherini will keep their jobs.
Before his time with Rangers, Beale was in charge of QPR when they were still playing in the Championship. During the summer of 2022, he joined the club located in west London and guided them to the highest position in the Championship. In October of the same year, he refused an opportunity to move up to the Premier League with Wolves.
But after just a month, Beale came back to Glasgow from serving as Steven Gerrard's assistant during Rangers' Premiership victory in 2020-21. He replaced Giovanni van Bronckhorst, but could only lead Rangers to second place against Ange Postecoglou's Celtic.
After only six league games in the next season, he was fired because they lost 3-1 to Aberdeen, causing them to drop to third place in the rankings. Since leaving Ibrox, he has not returned to the game.
On Saturday, Beale will be in control of Sunderland for the initial time as they receive Coventry at the Stadium of Light.
The head of sports in Sunderland, Kristjaan Speakman, mentioned that they've been keeping an eye on Michael for a while, and they're very excited to have agreed on him becoming their new head coach.
The coach has a great track record in helping players improve and is a forward-thinking coach who shares our approach to the game. He fits well with our team and will work closely with Mike Dodds and others to achieve our goals.
"We still believe in our proven method of selecting suitable individuals who can lead us forward during important times. Despite Michael's recent setback, we are confident that he is coming on board at the perfect moment in his coaching career and our club's trajectory."
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