Chris Coleman has been confirmed as the new manager of Sunderland.
The 47-year-old stepped down from his position as Wales manager earlier in the week after failing to follow their historic run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals with qualification for next summer’s World Cup.
A statement from Sunderland confirmed that Coleman had penned a two-and-a-half year deal with the Championship club, who were relegated from the Premier League under David Moyes at the end of last season.
Sunderland will be the fifth club side Coleman has managed in his career, after spells with Fulham, Real Sociedad, Coventry City and AEL. His appointment comes over two weeks after Simon Grayson was sacked.
Coleman marked his arrival with a short video posted to the club’s social media channels in which he gave a thumbs up for Bradley Lowery, the six-year-old supporter who lost his battle with a rare form of cancer last July.
👍👍 New #SAFC boss has his thumbs up #ForBradley pic.twitter.com/eWVWZj5O8b
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) November 19, 2017
Before the appointment was confirmed, the club had launched a fundraising campaign in honour of Bradley, with players wearing special edition “For Bradley” shirts during Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home with Millwall. The shirts are to be auctioned off and replicas have also gone on sale. All proceeds will find a holiday home for sick children and their families.
