Manager wanted by Sunderland was once labelled ‘WORST COACH EVER’

Manager wanted by Sunderland was once labelled ‘WORST COACH EVER’

A manager now fancied by Sunderland was once labelled the ‘worst coach ever’.

Sunderland are still looking for a new manager after parting ways with Michael Beale in February.
The Black Cats have been without a permanent manager since,

and fans are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the absence of managerial activity.

Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has already missed out on his top target,

Will Still, who has been confirmed as the next RC Lens manager.

Shortly after, Liam Rosenior withdrew from Sunderland, preferring to pursue the Burnley position instead.

Sunderland presently has very few people on its shortlist. Marti Cifuentes is a manager

who both Louis-Dreyfus and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman like.

Sunderland are apparently interested in QPR boss Cifuentes, who steered the R’s to an 18th-place finish in the Championship last season.

He’ll reportedly cost the Black Cats a six-figure compensation package.

However, as the search continues and fans’ patience grows thin, Sunderland may be compelled to pay Cifuentes at QPR.

Sunderland manager target Marti Cifuentes once labelled the ‘worst coach ever’

Cifuentes, 41, had a brief playing career before focusing on coaching at an early age.

The Spaniard began his career in Spain’s lower leagues before joining Norwegian club Sandefjord in 2018.

In more than two years in command, he won 33 of 81 games before being signed by four-time Danish champions AaB at the start of 2022.

However, in a December 2023 interview with the Guardian, Cifuentes recalled his early problems at AaB,

recalling how one headline labelled him the ‘worst ever coach’ in Danish Superliga history.

Cifuentes explained: “When I went to Denmark, I won after six official games.

“The biggest sports newspaper’s headline was

“I’m extremely used to being inexperienced, too young, or whatever. I’m simply a really positive person. I don’t have a miracle recipe.

Cifuentes would finally turn things around at AaB, prompting Hammarby to sign him for the Swedish Allsvenskan, and then QPR for the Championship.

With QPR, Cifuentes won 11 of 33 games to maintain the R’s in the Championship, finishing with a 43.73% win rate after 295 games as manager.

Why Marti Cifuentes could be the perfect next Sunderland manager

Cifuentes’ views are certainly fascinating. And they might explain why he’d be an excellent fit for Sunderland right now.

Given the current level of supporter dissatisfaction, whomever becomes the next Sunderland manager will undoubtedly face a difficult task.

Whoever arrives will be aware that they were not the club’s first choice, which is a setback in and of itself.

That, and the Black Cats’ next manager will most certainly lose several key players during the summer transfer window,

with Speakman’s chances of making any good summer additions being slim.

However, Cifuentes’ track record of beating the odds and negative expectations could help him when he arrives at the Stadium of Light.

The next Sunderland manager will undoubtedly have to be optimistic about the club’s fortunes.

Sunderland are in a shambles right now, and if the owners make the wrong decision or hire a Beale-type guy whose statements enrage fans even more,

the 2024/25 season may be disastrous.

However, Cifuentes’ management experience, as well as his calm and optimistic demeanour, suggest that he could be the ideal future Sunderland manager.

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