Sunderland is planning to shift its managerial approach

One top candidate may have to return to the Bundesliga, thus Sunderland may have to shift their focus elsewhere in their search for a new permanent head coach.

More than two weeks have passed since the end of the regular season, and this Sunday, Leeds United and Southampton will square off in the play-off final at Wembley to determine who will get promoted back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

But the 2024–25 season will start in a few weeks, leaving the Sunderland board with little time to name a new manager to take Michael Beale’s place in the dugout permanently after his resignation in February.

Following Beale’s firing, Mike Dodds became interim leadership for the second time this season. Sadly, his tenure as manager didn’t go as well as planned; in his 13 games in command, the Wearside team only managed two victories. The team just finished seven points above the relegation zone in 16th place in the standings.

Bo Svensson, the former manager of Mainz, is one name that has been connected to the open position at Sunderland. The Swedish coach hasn’t had a job since leaving the Bundesliga team in November—the former home of Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp.

However, a recent report from German publication Watson claims that Svensson is the clear favorite to take over at Union Berlin in the Bundesliga this summer, which could be a setback to Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’ hopes of appointing the 44-year-old.