Sunderland considering replacing Tony Mowbray with Italian, claims report

Sunderland may replace Tony Mowbray with Italian Francesco Farioli this summer, if a new report is to be believed.

Renowned transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has claimed Sunderland are keen to appoint the 34-year-old for next season, although what that would mean about Mowbray is a bit of a mystery.

“Sunderland appreciate Francesco Farioli as new head coach for the next season, he’s on top of their list,” Romano wrote on Twitter.

“Farioli, considered talented coach — he’s only 34 years old and clubs in Italy, Portugal [including Braga], England and Turkey have approached him.”

Excl: Sunderland appreciate Francesco Farioli as new head coach for the next season, he’s on top of their list. ⚪️🔴 #SAFC

Farioli, considered talented coach — he’s only 34 years old and clubs in Italy, Portugal [including Braga], England and Turkey have approached him. pic.twitter.com/0vOLdhhDpQ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 24, 2023

On the face of it, it’s very difficult to know what to do with this story. On the one hand, Romano has to be acknowledged as the top football source in the world for exclusives, and he has got plenty right about Sunderland before.

It was him who broke Sunderland’s approach for Edouard Michut, for example. This story deserves to be taken seriously, then.

On the other hand, it’s all a little bit unbelievable at the same time and doesn’t make much sense – unless there is a big piece of the puzzle we don’t know about.

That piece would be if Mowbray only ever took over on the understanding that he would come in and steady the ship for a year.

He signed a two-year contract when he was appointed at the end of April, but was that to just give him the option to stay longer if he wanted to? It’s very hard to speculate, in truth.

What no one has to speculate about, of course, is that it will be impossible to imagine anyone is unhappy with Mowbray’s work.

Regardless of whether or not Sunderland get into the play-offs, Mowbray has dramatically overachieved with newly promoted squad of very inexperienced players, reeling from a manager walking out and utterly decimated by injuries.

Neil walked out because he wanted more say on transfers, but Mowbray has been pitch perfect in public about how comfortable he is leaving that to others at the club.

He has become very popular with the supporters as well, largely because of the quite wonderful quality of football that has been produced under him, but also due to his very honest and frank communication. Mowbray has also shown a tremendous amount of respect to the club, which carries extra value following the deplorable way in which Alex Neil treated it.

Ultimately, who knows. When Mowbray left Blackburn at the end of last season, he said he wanted to spend more time with his family, so perhaps that is still his important to his plans.

Whatever a reason for Mowbray leaving – if indeed he does – it would be a shame. The club feels like it has some real stability right now and the Teessider appears to be tailor made to guide it.

Another possibility could be some kind of succession plan as well. Could Farioli be asked to come in to work with Mowbray for a year on the promise that he will be handed the reigns the following season? Again, it’s tough to speculate.

Who is Francesco Farioli?

All you can really say about Francesco Farioli right now is that he is a very promising coach who has started to build a nice track record.

However, that track record, as far as being a head coach goes, is restricted to Turkey.

He has had two head coach jobs before, at Fatih Karagümrük and Alanyaspor and done well with both, posting a >40% win record. It should be noted, though, that he is only starting out and is yet to reach 100 games in his career.

He does have some prestige by association too. He was part of Brighton boss Roberto De Zebri’s coaching staff at Benevento and Sassuolo.

Who is Francesco Farioli?

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