Sunderland have turned to ex-Wales boss Chris Coleman in an attempt to turn around their floundering Championship campaign.
Is it a sensible career move for Coleman to ditch the Welsh national team for a relegation dogfight with the Black Cats though and can he keep them up?
Coleman has never shied away from a challenge before in his coaching career. He surprised some by testing himself abroad with Real Socidead in Spain and AEL in Greece; as well taking on a Coventry side in 2008 that were at the beginning of a downward spiral. Sunderland is arguably one of the toughest challenges in English football right now; which possibly attracted Coleman to the job rather than put him off.
However what he needs, here and now, is results. Coleman needs to galvanise this Sunderland team quickly and bring in quality January recruits if they are to survive.
If Coleman keeps them up, there is every chance that he could build long-term success at the Stadium of Light. However if they go down, whoever is in charge, Sunderland are likely to continue their descent down a very slippery slope.
Is it a sensible career move for Coleman to ditch the Welsh national team for a relegation dogfight with the Black Cats though and can he keep them up?
Why Sunderland? Many have been left puzzled by Coleman's decision to leave his position as manager of his country to join Sunderland; a side with limited financial resources and who are currently rock-bottom of English football's second-tier.
The Welshman clearly feels that Sunderland is a good move and has spoke of his pride at being given the opportunity to take the reins at the Stadium of Light: "Many managers go through their whole career without managing a Sunderland, regardless of where it is." Coleman said.
The Black Cats recently became the first ever league side to go 20 consecutive home matches in the league without a win and only led for a total of seven minutes during that miserable run. If Coleman can turn this mess around, he'll be lauded as a genius.
But can he turn this mess around? Can anyone? Are Sunderland damaged beyond repair? Only time will tell but the Black Cats have definitely given themselves an improved chance of survival with this appointment.
It's often man-management skills that can turn a club's fortunes around mid-season. Coleman's man-management skills and ability to grow an excellent team spirit amongst a tight-knit squad of players is largely behind his recent successes at Wales.
He had a squad with Wales that was built up largely of average players with some real quality peppered across it; much like Sunderland although, of course, to a much lesser degree.
Coleman needs to produce a similar trick by utilising Sunderland's better players in Lewis Grabban and Aidan McGeady like he did with Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsay for Wales; as well making their relatively average teammates look better.
His departure from Wales has been met with great sadness by a group of players who loved working for him.
Star-man Gareth Bale recently said: "What he has done for the team and Welsh football has been amazing.
"He couldn't have taken the job at a more difficult time and what we've collectively achieved since then has been amazing".
Coleman's Welsh side's defence possessed the best record in their most recent qualifying campaign which suggests that Coleman did build a team that was a little more than Gareth Bale's one-man band.
He was also never afraid of giving young players a chance; which is good news for the Black Cats' up-and-coming talent. He got good performances out of Tom Lawrence and Ben Woodburn in important qualifying games and even gave 17 year-old Ethan Ampadu a chance in the senior team.
It would be massive for Sunderland if he could help grow players like George Honeyman, Josh Maja and Joel Asoro in a similar way; three talented Sunderland youngsters with a bright future ahead of them, providing they get the right guidance.
But can he turn this mess around? Can anyone? Are Sunderland damaged beyond repair? Only time will tell but the Black Cats have definitely given themselves an improved chance of survival with this appointment.
It's often man-management skills that can turn a club's fortunes around mid-season. Coleman's man-management skills and ability to grow an excellent team spirit amongst a tight-knit squad of players is largely behind his recent successes at Wales.
He had a squad with Wales that was built up largely of average players with some real quality peppered across it; much like Sunderland although, of course, to a much lesser degree.
Coleman needs to produce a similar trick by utilising Sunderland's better players in Lewis Grabban and Aidan McGeady like he did with Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsay for Wales; as well making their relatively average teammates look better.
His departure from Wales has been met with great sadness by a group of players who loved working for him.
Star-man Gareth Bale recently said: "What he has done for the team and Welsh football has been amazing.
"He couldn't have taken the job at a more difficult time and what we've collectively achieved since then has been amazing".
Coleman's Welsh side's defence possessed the best record in their most recent qualifying campaign which suggests that Coleman did build a team that was a little more than Gareth Bale's one-man band.
He was also never afraid of giving young players a chance; which is good news for the Black Cats' up-and-coming talent. He got good performances out of Tom Lawrence and Ben Woodburn in important qualifying games and even gave 17 year-old Ethan Ampadu a chance in the senior team.
It would be massive for Sunderland if he could help grow players like George Honeyman, Josh Maja and Joel Asoro in a similar way; three talented Sunderland youngsters with a bright future ahead of them, providing they get the right guidance.
However what he needs, here and now, is results. Coleman needs to galvanise this Sunderland team quickly and bring in quality January recruits if they are to survive.
If Coleman keeps them up, there is every chance that he could build long-term success at the Stadium of Light. However if they go down, whoever is in charge, Sunderland are likely to continue their descent down a very slippery slope.
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