SUNDERLAND have announced Lee Johnson as their new manager.
The former Bristol City boss has penned a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Black Cats.
Lee Johnson was in charge of Bristol City from 2016 until 2020Credit: PA:Press Association
Johnson will take charge of Sunderland for the first time during today’s game against Wigan.
The 39-year-old has been out of work since July when he was sacked by Bristol City.
He arrives at the club as a replacement for Phil Parkinson, who was sacked at the end of last month.
After putting pen to paper with the Black Cats, he claimed to see so much ‘potential’ within the club.
As things stand, Sunderland are seventh in League One with six wins from 14 games.
Speaking on the club website, Johnson said: “Speaking to Kristjaan, Jim and the owners, I was absolutely blown away by their plans and dreams for the club.
“I can see so much potential and I see it everywhere. I see it in the league and how we can step up, I see it in the facilities, I see it in the community and the passion the people of Sunderland have, and I also see it in the academy.
“The feeling I got from the ownership group [made this the right club for me]. There was other interest, but that doesn’t matter now and I want to be successful and to see a brave new Sunderland.
“I want to be bold in my own decisions, I want to be bold for the team in the way that we play and the philosophy that we play to, but I also want the club to make bold decisions and that is what I’ve truly bought into.
“We have to connect the team and the fan base because that can be really powerful at a club like this.”
Johnson became the youngest manager in the EFL when he was appointed Oldham Athletic boss in 2013, aged 31.
He joined Barnsley in 2015 before making the move to Bristol City in 2016.
During his playing career, he most notably played for Yeovil Town, Hearts, Bristol City, Derby, Chesterfield and Kilmarnock.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
