Sunderland have confirmed the appointment of Sam Allardyce as the club's new manager.
The 60-year-old, who has been out of work since ending a four-year spell at West Ham United in the summer, has put pen to paper on a two-year contract.
Allardyce emerged as the leading contender for the role shortly after Dick Advocaat resigned from his post after failing to guide the Black Cats to a win in eight games of the Premier League season.
Chairman Ellis Short told the club's official website: "I am very pleased to welcome Sam to our football club. Sunderland is a club he knows well and he was the obvious best choice for the job. He has vast experience of managing in the Premier League and an understanding first-hand of the North-East and the passion of our fans, which will stand him in great stead.
"I would like to assure our fans that once Dick made us aware of his intention to leave, Lee Congerton oversaw an organised and structured recruitment process, that bore very little resemblance to what has been described in the media. For example, this was a very popular job, proactively sought after by a large number of managers, contrary to much of what has been portrayed. The process was made easier by the fact that Sam was such an obvious choice.
"The other misconception is that Sam had to be persuaded to join us - nothing could be further from the truth. From the very beginning, he understood the importance of this job and showed great enthusiasm for the role and a desire to be part of moving this club forward."
Allardyce represented Sunderland for a season as a player, but in management has worked at Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham, where he guided the team back into the Premier League in 2012.
Danielle Joynson
