Current interim manager Mike Dodds led Sunderland to victory against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, but the Black Cats are still seeking a long-term replacement for Tony Mowbray.
Owner Kyril Louis-Dreyrus reportedly wants a younger manager to join the team and enhance its current youthful culture.
Even though Will Still, Kieran McKenna, and Julien Sable have all been linked to the position, the Wearside hierarchy would be far worse off selecting John Eustace as manager.
Eustace became a victim of overachieving at St Andrew’s after being brutally fired as Birmingham City manager in October and Wayne Rooney was appointed in his place—an appointment that has since been shown to be a disaster.
He established a more defined style and stabilised a team that was only going in one direction, which was League One.
The fact that they have only won one of Rooney’s nine Championship games since being fired by the Blues shows just how bad that choice has been.
Even though the supporters presently favour Still taking the helm, his lack of managerial experience in England makes him too costly and a significant risk.
Here are three reasons why Eustace and Sunderland could be the perfect fit…
John Eustace plays an exciting brand of football
Eustace was able to assemble a team in the summer that suited his attacking and progressive football philosophy after he managed to keep Birmingham in the Championship the previous season.
By adding players like Siriki Dembele, Cody Drameh, Koji Myoshi, and Ethan Laird, he was able to turn his team into one that could attack the opposition.
Cunning wingers That thrilling play came from Dembele and Myoshi in particular in the last third.
Together with being praised as “terrific” by fellow manager Michael Carrick, Eustace would thrive working with Jack Clarke and Patrick Roberts, two incredible wide players.
He hits targets
When he arrived at Birmingham in the summer of 2022, expectations were extremely high, and he took over a very thin team.
While they were predicted to be involved in a relegation struggle, Eustace had the Blues in seventh place in the middle of December. However, after nine losses in eleven games, they dropped to 19th place.
The Englishman demonstrated that he could produce results on a tight budget by finishing in 17th place.
Eustace can surpass Sunderland’s goal of earning promotion to the Premier League, given the superior team he will inherit and the significant increase in funding.
There’s youth on his side
Sunderland is searching for a young manager to take charge.
Even though Eustace, 44, is older than some of the managers being linked to the position, such as 31-year-old Still, he is still relatively young in the history of football management.
Eustace is following a similar path, as he inherits a team that is primarily made up of young players who are displaying promising signs of development.
Since he is just beginning his managerial career, he has plenty of time to establish himself in the football world.
Furthermore, leading Sunderland back to the Premier League would be the ideal method for him to establish his reputation.
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