List of Sunderland A.F.C. managers

Peter Reid, manager of Sunderland from 1995 to 2002, gained the club's highest league finish since 1955.

Sunderland Association Football Club was founded in 1879. After turning professional in 1886, the club appointed Tom Watson as their first manager, and under Watson the team won the Football League First Division three times in four seasons.^[1] The percentage of games won under Watson remains the highest of all time for a Sunderland manager. Watson left to manage Liverpool and was replaced by Robert Campbell, but the new manager failed to continue the success of his predecessor. The next three managers, Alex Mackie, Bob Kyle and Johnny Cochrane, each won the First Division title while at the club. Kyle's 817 games in charge, spread over 19 full seasons either side of the First World War, make him Sunderland's longest-serving manager.^[2] Cochrane led the club to their first FA Cup victory, beating Preston North End 3–1 in the 1937 final.^[3] The closest they had come in previous seasons was as losing finalists in 1913 under Kyle.^[4]

After Cochrane, no manager won a trophy until Bob Stokoe led the team to their second FA Cup with a 1–0 win over Leeds United in the 1973 FA Cup Final.^[5] Stokoe took Sunderland into European competition for the first time in their history, but they were knocked out in the second round of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup by Sporting Clube de Portugal.^[6] Len Ashurst led Sunderland to their first League Cup final, which they lost 1–0 to Norwich City, but relegation brought him the sack at the end of the season.^[7][8] Under Lawrie McMenemy, Sunderland were relegated to the Third Division for the only time in their history.^[9] Following this, Denis Smith was named as manager, and saw the club back into the Second Division.^[10]

Peter Reid brought Sunderland to the Premier League for the first time in their history in the 1996–97 season, but they were relegated in their debut season.^[11] The team progressed as far as the Division One play-off final in 1998, drawing 4–4 after extra time before losing 7–6 on penalties,^[12] and went one step further the following season, winning promotion as champions with a record total, at that time, of 105 points.^[13] Still led by Reid, they went on to achieve their highest place finish in the Premier League, finishing seventh in two consecutive seasons, and narrowly missed out on a UEFA Cup place.^[14] In 2002–03, Sunderland had three different managers, with Reid, Howard Wilkinson and, towards the end of the season, Mick McCarthy; the club ended that season with a then record low total of 19 points.^[14] Under McCarthy, a third-place finish in the Championship earned Sunderland a place in the 2003–04 play-offs, only to lose to Crystal Palace in the semi-finals;^[15] in 2004–05, they were promoted as champions, clinching the title with a 2–1 win over West Ham.^[16] In March 2006, McCarthy was sacked in a season where Sunderland gained just 15 points, breaking their previous record, with former player Kevin Ball taking over as caretaker manager for the remaining games.^[17] Following a takeover of the club, incoming chairman Niall Quinn acted as manager until Roy Keane's appointment three weeks into the 2006–07 season.^[18] Keane went on to win the Championship title in his first season of management.^[19] After keeping the side in the Premier League, he resigned in December 2008 and Ricky Sbragia eventually assumed the role after a spell as caretaker.^[20][21] Sbragia resigned immediately after the final match of the 2008–09 season, when Sunderland had achieved survival in the Premier League.^[22] Wigan Athletic manager Steve Bruce was appointed as his successor in June 2009.^[23] Having spent two-and-a-half years as manager, Bruce was sacked on 30 November 2011.^[24] Martin O'Neill, a boyhood fan of the club, was appointed as manager on 3 December 2012. Sunderland's form soon took off, picking up 27 points in O'Neill's first 18 league games in charge, as well as reaching an FA Cup quarter-final. However, the team underperformed during the 2012–13 season, and on 30 March 2013, O'Neill was sacked. The following day on 31 March 2013, Paolo Di Canio was appointed on a 2 ¹⁄₂-year contract. Di Canio was sacked less than six months later with Sunderland bottom of the Premier League.^[25]

Key

Key to record: M = Matches played W = Matches won D = Matches drawn L = Matches lost % = Win ratio

Managers

As of 30 March 2016. Only professional, competitive matches are counted, including; League, FA Cup, League Cup and other cup competitions. Dates for earlier years are only months because of unclear statistics.

Name	Nationality	From	To	M	W	D	L	Win %	Honours	Notes
–		November 1879	August 1889	12	8	1	3	66.7		[26]
Watson, TomTom Watson	England	August 1889	August 1896	191	119	28	44	62.3	Football League First Division champions 1891–92, 1892–93, 1894–95	[27]
Campbell, RobertRobert Campbell	Scotland	August 1896	April 1899	103	41	22	40	39.8		[28]
Mackie, AlexAlex Mackie	Scotland	August 1899	April 1905	214	104	46	64	48.6	Football League First Division champions 1901–02, Sheriff of London Charity Shield champions 1902–03	[29]
Kyle, BobBob Kyle	Ireland	August 1905	May 1928	817	371	155	291	45.4	Football League First Division champions 1912–13	[30]
Cochrane, JohnnyJohnny Cochrane	Scotland	June 1928	March 1939	500	212	122	166	42.4	Football League First Division champions 1935–36, FA Cup winners 1936–37	[31]
–		March 1939	March 1939	5	2	0	3	40.0		[26]
Murray, BillBill Murray	Scotland	April 1939	June 1957	512	186	140	186	36.3		[32]
Brown, AlanAlan Brown	England	August 1957	July 1964	332	138	88	106	41.6		[33]
–		August 1964	November 1964	18	3	6	9	16.7		[26]
Hardwick, GeorgeGeorge Hardwick (caretaker)	England	November 1964	April 1965	29	14	3	12	48.3		[34]
McColl, IanIan McColl	Scotland	August 1965	February 1968	124	39	27	58	31.5		[35]
Brown, AlanAlan Brown	England	February 1968	November 1972	219	63	68	88	28.8		[33]
Elliott, BillyBilly Elliott (caretaker)	England	November 1972	November 1972	4	0	2	2	00.0		[36]
Stokoe, BobBob Stokoe	England	23 November 1972	18 October 1976	197	92	49	56	46.7	FA Cup winners 1972–73, Football League Second Division champions 1975–76	[37]
MacFarlane, IanIan MacFarlane (caretaker)	Scotland	18 October 1976	1 December 1976	7	2	1	4	28.6		[38]
Adamson, JimmyJimmy Adamson	England	1 December 1976	25 October 1978	88	29	28	31	33.0		[39]
Merrington, DavidDavid Merrington (caretaker)	England	25 October 1978	13 December 1978	8	4	2	2	50.0		[40]
Elliott, BillyBilly Elliott	England	13 December 1978	24 May 1979	26	14	7	5	53.8		[36]
Knighton, KenKen Knighton	England	7 June 1979	1 April 1981	94	34	25	35	36.2		[41]
Docherty, MickMick Docherty (caretaker)	England	1 April 1981	1 June 1981	4	2	0	2	50.0		[42]
Durban, AlanAlan Durban	Wales	1 June 1981	2 March 1984	130	37	40	53	28.5		[43]
Robson, PopPop Robson (caretaker)	England	2 March 1984	4 March 1984	1	0	1	0	00.0		[44]
Ashurst, LenLen Ashurst	England	4 March 1984	23 May 1985	66	21	16	29	31.8		[45]
McMenemy, LawrieLawrie McMenemy	England	8 June 1985	16 April 1987	90	27	24	39	30.0		[46]
Stokoe, BobBob Stokoe (caretaker)	England	16 April 1987	9 June 1987	9	3	2	4	33.3		[37]
Smith, DenisDenis Smith	England	9 June 1987	30 December 1991	238	91	64	83	38.2	Football League Third Division champions 1987–88	[47]
Crosby, MalcolmMalcolm Crosby	England	30 December 1991	28 January 1993	60	21	15	24	35.0		[48]
Butcher, TerryTerry Butcher	England	29 January 1993	26 November 1993	45	14	8	23	31.1		[49]
Buxton, MickMick Buxton	England	26 November 1993	29 March 1995	76	25	24	27	32.9		[50]
Reid, PeterPeter Reid	England	29 March 1995	7 October 2002	353	159	95	99	45.0	Football League First Division champions 1995–96, 1998–99	[51]
Wilkinson, HowardHoward Wilkinson	England	10 October 2002	10 March 2003	27	4	8	15	14.8		[52]
McCarthy, MickMick McCarthy	Ireland	12 March 2003	6 March 2006	147	63	26	58	42.9	Football League Championship champions 2004–05	[53]
Ball, KevinKevin Ball (caretaker)	England	7 March 2006	31 May 2006	10	1	2	7	10.0		[54]
Quinn, NiallNiall Quinn	Ireland	25 July 2006	30 August 2006	6	1	0	5	16.7		[55]
Keane, RoyRoy Keane	Ireland	30 August 2006	4 December 2008	100	42	17	41	42.0	Football League Championship champions 2006–07	[56]
Sbragia, RickyRicky Sbragia	Scotland	4 December 2008	24 May 2009	26	6	7	13	23.1		[57]
Bruce, SteveSteve Bruce	England	3 June 2009	30 November 2011	98	29	28	41	29.6		[58]
Black, EricEric Black (caretaker)	Scotland	30 November 2011	3 December 2011	1	0	0	1	00.0		[59]
O'Neill, MartinMartin O'Neill	Northern Ireland	3 December 2011	30 March 2013	54	19	16	19	35.2		[60]
Di Canio, PaoloPaolo Di Canio	Italy	31 March 2013	22 September 2013	13	3	3	7	23.1
Ball, KevinKevin Ball (caretaker)	England	22 September 2013	8 October 2013	3	1	0	2	33.3		[61]
Poyet, GusGus Poyet	Uruguay	8 October 2013	16 March 2015	75	23	22	30	30.7		[62] [63]
Advocaat, DickDick Advocaat	Netherlands	17 March 2015	4 October 2015	19	4	6	9	21.1
Allardyce, SamSam Allardyce	England	9 October 2015		23	6	5	12	26.1		[64]

References

1. "Past Manager Profile — Tom Watson". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 16 February 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
2. "Sunderland AFC Manager Summaries". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
3. "FA Cup Final 1937". FA Cup Finals. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
4. "FA Cup Final 1913". FA Cup Finals. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
5. "FA Cup Final 1973". FA Cup Finals. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
6. "1973–74 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup". UEFA. Archived from the original on 25 March 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
7. "England — League Cup Finals 1961–2001". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
8. "Past Managers 1979–1985". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 4 July 2008.
9. "Past Managers — Lawrie McMenemy". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
10. "1980–99". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
11. "1996/97 season". Premier League. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
12. "Championship Play-Off — Final". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
13. "1990–1999". Sunderland A.F.C. Archived from the original on 4 January 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
14. "Sunderland AFC". Premier League. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
15. "Football Club History Database — Sunderland". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
16. "Football: Championship: Elliott sends Sunderland up as champions". The Guardian. 4 April 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2005.
17. "Sunderland sack manager McCarthy". BBC Sport. 6 March 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
18. "Keane becomes new Sunderland boss". BBC Sport. 28 August 2006. Retrieved 4 July 2008.
19. Andrew McKenzie (29 April 2007). "Quinn astonished by Keane success". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
20. "Keane resigns as Sunderland boss". BBC Sport. 4 December 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
21. "Sbragia appointed Sunderland boss". BBC Sport. 27 December 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
22. "Sbragia resigns from Sunderland". BBC Sport. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
23. "Bruce named as Sunderland manager". BBC Sport. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
24. "Sunderland part company with manager". Sunderland A.F.C. 30 November 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
25. "Paolo Di Canio: Sunderland part company with Italian". BBC Sport. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
26. "Managerless Period". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
27. "Tom Watson". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
28. "Robert Campbell". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
29. "Alex Mackie". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
30. "Bob Kyle". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
31. "Johnny Cochrane". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
32. "Bill Murray". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
33. "Alan Brown". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
34. "George Hardwick". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
35. "Ian McColl". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
36. "Billy Elliott". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
37. "Bob Stokoe". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
38. "Ian MacFarlane". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
39. "Jimmy Adamson". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
40. "David Merrington". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
41. "Ken Knighton". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
42. "Mick Docherty". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
43. "Alan Durban". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
44. "Pop Robson". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
45. "Len Ashurst". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
46. "Lawrie McMenemy". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
47. "Denis Smith". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
48. "Malcolm Crosby". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
49. "Terry Butcher". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
50. "Mick Buxton". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
51. "Peter Reid". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
52. "Howard Wilkinson". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
53. "Mick McCarthy". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
54. "Kevin Ball". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
55. "Niall Quinn". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
56. "Roy Keane". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
57. "Ricky Sbragia's managerial career". Soccerbase. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
58. "Steve Bruce's managerial career". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
59. "Eric Black's managerial career". Soccerbase. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
60. "Martin O'Neill's managerial career". Soccerbase. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
61. "Kevin Ball". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
62. "Gus Poyet: Sunderland name Uruguayan as head coach". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
63. "Gus Poyet: Sunderland sack manager after crisis talks". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
64. "Sunderland appoint Sam Allardyce as new manager on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.

External links

• Manager details at The Stat Cat: Sunderland A.F.C. playing history
• Manager details at Soccerbase