New man: Martin O'Neill has signed three-year deal at Sunderland Photo: EPA
O’Neill has signed a three-year contract and will officially take charge of the team on Monday, although he will be in the stands to watchSunderland take on Wolverhampton Wanderers today.
Sunderland had focused all their effort on trying to lure O’Neill to the North-East as soon as a decision to sack Steve Bruce was made late on Tuesday night.
And the club’s American owner, Ellis Short, is convinced he has found the right man to transform Sunderland from Premier League also-rans into European contenders.
Sunderland have never qualified for European competition through their league position, but Short hopes O’Neill is the manager to change that.
“Martin has as good a managerial pedigree as you could wish to find and has proven over the years to be a very astute, top-level manager,” said Short, who was behind the decision to sack Bruce last week after just three home wins in 2011.
“During his time at Aston Villa he established the club firmly in the top ten of the Barclays Premier League year-on-year and this is something we are striving to achieve at Sunderland.
“Having spoken with him over the last two days I know he is brimming with enthusiasm and anticipation about the challenge of taking Sunderland forward and I believe he is the perfect choice to deliver the success we all desire.”
O’Neill has previously spoken of his childhood memories listening to Sunderland games on the radio in Northern Ireland and it is that tie, no matter how tenuous, as well as his excellent pedigree, that meant Mark Hughes was never likely to beat him in the battle to succeed Bruce.
O’Neill guided Villa to three successive top six finishes during his time in Birmingham, a status Sunderland supporters would cherish.
“It’s a very nice feeling to be back in football and to be the manager of Sunderland,” said O’Neill, who quit at Villa Park in August last year. “It’s a big moment for me.
“I’d heard about what a good club it was but coming here, seeing the stadium and training ground, I’ve been bowled over. It’s absolutely fantastic.
“I hope I can help Sunderland to a very successful period. That’s what I’ve come for and that’s my driving ambition.”
O’Neill will look to strengthen the squad he has inherited from Bruce next month, with the need for a striker to play alongside Nicklas Bendtner his most pressing concern.
“During his time at Aston Villa he established the club firmly in the top ten of the Barclays Premier League year-on-year and this is something we are striving to achieve at Sunderland.
“Having spoken with him over the last two days I know he is brimming with enthusiasm and anticipation about the challenge of taking Sunderland forward and I believe he is the perfect choice to deliver the success we all desire.”
O’Neill has previously spoken of his childhood memories listening to Sunderland games on the radio in Northern Ireland and it is that tie, no matter how tenuous, as well as his excellent pedigree, that meant Mark Hughes was never likely to beat him in the battle to succeed Bruce.
O’Neill guided Villa to three successive top six finishes during his time in Birmingham, a status Sunderland supporters would cherish.
“It’s a very nice feeling to be back in football and to be the manager of Sunderland,” said O’Neill, who quit at Villa Park in August last year. “It’s a big moment for me.
“I’d heard about what a good club it was but coming here, seeing the stadium and training ground, I’ve been bowled over. It’s absolutely fantastic.
“I hope I can help Sunderland to a very successful period. That’s what I’ve come for and that’s my driving ambition.”
O’Neill will look to strengthen the squad he has inherited from Bruce next month, with the need for a striker to play alongside Nicklas Bendtner his most pressing concern.
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