Wilkinson is new Black Cats boss

Howard Wilkinson was today unveiled as Sunderland‘s new manager with Steve Cotterill as his assistant.

The Black Cats have gone for experience in appointing 58-year-old Wilkinson, who has been the Football Association‘s technical director for five years, on a contract running until the summer of 2005.

And Sunderland have installed Cotterill, who resigned as Stoke manager this morning, as Wilkinson‘s assistant.

Sunderland, who have had a disappointing start to the season and lie fourth-from-bottom of the Premiership, sacked Peter Reid on Monday night.

And their shock move for Wilkinson leaves the FA without a technical director.

Cotterill, who only took over at Stoke five months ago, is a UEFA ‘A’ coaching licence holder and is currently studying for the European ruling body’s prestigious ‘Pro Licence’, the highest qualification in Europe after being personally selected by Wilkinson when he was technical director.

Sunderland have moved swiftly to install a successor to Reid who has the right credentials to turn the club around.

When Wilkinson took over at Leeds United in 1988 the Elland Road outfit were languishing in the lower reaches of the old Second Division.

In 1990 he secured promotion to the old First Division and two years later he captured the title – Leeds‘ first title since 1974.

But Wilkinson was not able to build on that success and in 1996, after a 4-0 home defeat against Manchester United, he was sacked.

A year later he was appointed as the FA‘s technical director.

Wilkinson has twice been handed the caretaker England manager role – after the respective departures of Glenn Hoddle and Kevin Keegan.

At the end of Hoddle‘s reign he was in charge for a 2-0 friendly defeat against France at Wembley and, after Keegan‘s resignation in the wake of a 1-0 World Cup qualifying defeat against Germany at Wembley, he oversaw a goalless draw with Finland in a World Cup qualifier the following week.

Wilkinson took charge of England Under-21s when Keegan was appointed England manager but relinquished that role in June 2001, David Platt succeeding him.

After a playing career with Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton and Boston United, Wilkinson began his managerial career when he succeeded Jim Smith as Boston boss.

He became Jimmy Sirrel‘s assistant at Notts County in 1981 and in 1982 he took over as manager.

In 1983 he was appointed manager of Sheffield Wednesday and guided them to promotion from the old Division Two.

But it was at Leeds that he firmly established his credentials as a top manager and many felt he had been harshly treated when he was shown the door at Elland Road with George Graham taking over.

Wilkinson said: ``I relish the challenge ahead here at Sunderland.

“It is clear to me that this is a club with a proud tradition, huge and faithful support and in the Stadium of Light and academy, facilities that will be second to none.

“I feel that I have benefited massively from my time as Technical Director at the FA.

“It was a great opportunity to take a step back from the narrow focus that club management can have and look at the new and modern developments that were occurring in the game.

“I am very grateful to Adam Crozier and the FA for understanding that the position at Sunderland is challenging and exciting at this stage in my career.

“I am really looking forward to working closely with Steve to develop what is on paper already a strong squad at Sunderland.

“Steve has established a tremendous reputation within the game in a relatively short space of time. With my experience and Steve’s undoubted ability, I see bright and exciting times ahead for Sunderland Football Club and its supporters,” he told the club’s official website, www.safc.com.