Nearly two weeks on from the controversial sacking of Tony Mowbray, Sunderland have confirmed Michael Beale as their new head coach. 

The former QPR and Rangers boss has signed a contract until summer 2026 at the Stadium of Light and started his role on Monday, returning to coaching two months after leaving the Scottish giants. 

The 43-year-old earned plaudits for his brief tenure at Loftus Road which saw him take QPR top of the Championship, but a less successful spell at Rangers would follow, and he was sacked in October.

Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman said: "We have monitored Michael’s career for some time and we are delighted to have reached an agreement for him to become our new head coach.

"He has an excellent and well-founded reputation for developing players and he is an outstanding progressive coach, who is aligned with our playing identity and naturally fits within our structure alongside Mike Dodds and the wider team.

"We continue to trust in our established process of identifying the right candidates to take us forward at these junctures and although Michael has had a setback, we feel we are getting him at the right time in his coaching journey and our journey as a club."

Beale added: "It’s a huge honour to be joining the Sunderland family and I would like to thank Kyril, Kristjaan and the rest of the executive team for the faith and responsibility they have placed in me.

"The existing coaching team deserve huge credit for the way they navigated the interim period and like all of the staff at the Club, they will continue to be vitally important moving forward alongside the incredible fans that make SAFC such an historic and unique club.

"It’s clear there is some excellent work being done at senior and academy level and I’m excited to support those efforts and implement my own ideas, as we build on the strong identity already established within the club."

Mike Dodds won two of three games as interim and has been appointed assistant head coach. 

Beale's first game is against Coventry City on Saturday.