SUNDERLAND have unveiled Dick Advocaat’s backroom team – but there will be no return for the Dutchman’s long-time right-hand man Bert van Lingen.
Van Lingen has worked with Advocaat off and on since the pair’s stint at the Dutch FA in the early 1980s, and followed Advocaat to Rangers, Ajax and latterly, Zenith St Petersburg, before a short spell at Serbia.
Advocaat, however, will be welcoming back assistant head coach Zeljko Petrovic and first team coach Paul Bracewell, along with goalkeeping coach Adrian Tucker.
Petrovic, who hails from the former Yugoslavia, joined Sunderland along with Advocaat with nine league games to play last season and helped the Dutchman retain the club’s top-flight status.
The 49-year-old also worked with Advocaat during his time with the Serbia national team. Meanwhile, Bracewell joined the first-team set-up following the head coach’s arrival having previously coached within the club’s Academy.
He made 226 senior appearances for Sunderland during three spells with the club and was capped three times at full international level by England.
Goalkeeping coach Tucker hails from Wales and joined Swansea City’s coaching staff in 2009 having previously managed the Women’s national side. He has also worked with Birmingham City and is the current England U20s goalkeeping coach.
Meanwhile, sports scientist Scott Pearce will also continue in his role with the first team.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here