• Premier League

Poyet appointed Sunderland manager

Sunderland have confirmed the appointment of Gus Poyet as their new manager on a two-year contract, two weeks after the sacking of Paolo Di Canio.

Poyet had long been the favourite for the vacant post, and he will take charge at the Stadium of Light along with his backroom staff Mauricio Taricco and Charlie Oatway.

The Uruguayan will fill the void left by Di Canio who, after being appointed to replace Martin O'Neill in March, was sacked five games into the new Premier League season.

Former Sunderland defender Kevin Ball had been operating as caretaker manager for the club while they have been searching for a new boss, and had put himself forward as a candidate for the position full-time, but Sunderland have opted for Poyet, 45, as the man to lift them off the bottom of the Premier League table.

Sunderland owner Ellis Short told the club's official website: "We analysed a wide range of candidates and believe that Gus's track record, experience, commitment and passion make him the right man to take us forward."

"We welcome him to Sunderland."

Former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder Poyet began his coaching career working under his ex-Blues team-mate Dennis Wise at Swindon Town and Leeds United, before returning the White Hart Lane as first team coach under Juande Ramos.

Poyet took the manager's job at Brighton and Hove Albion in 2009, where he steered the Seagulls from League One up as far as last season's Championship playoffs, where they lost to rivals Crystal Palace in the semi-finals

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