Chris Coleman has become the club’s new manager this afternoon, penning a two-and-a-half-year contract at the Stadium of Light.
The Welshman has joined Sunderland just days after resigning as the national team manager of Wales.
Hailing from Swansea, in South Wales, the 47-year-old became the Welsh manager in 2012 when he succeeded the late Gary Speed.
Coleman built on the fine foundations set by Speed and guided his national team to an historic appearance at Euro 2016, where they reached the semi-finals.
It was a major achievement for Wales, with last year’s European Championships the country’s first in more than 50 years.
But where did it all start for Coleman?
A central defender by trade, Coleman made more than 200 appearances for his hometown club, Swansea City, after making his debut at 17.
Coleman moved to Selhurst Park in 1991 where then manager Steve Coppell sometimes utilised him as a centre forward.
Spells at Blackburn Rovers and then Fulham followed before he retired at the age of just 32. Coleman also made 32 appearances for Wales, scoring four times.
In 2003, Coleman got his first taste of management when he took over from Jean Tigana at Craven Cottage. At the time, Coleman was the youngster manager in the Premier League and did well to steer them away from danger.
Spells with Spanish side Real Sociedad and Coventry City followed for the Welshman before a short tenure at AEL saw him move to Greece.
In January 2012, Coleman took over the Wales manager role following the heart-breaking death of close friend Gary Speed three months prior.
But Coleman continued Speed’s legacy and engineered some of the finest football Welsh fans have seen in years, as they reached their first major finals since the 1958 World Cup.