A former Sunderland favourite has been sacked from his first managerial role.
Sunderland legend Julio Arca arrived on Wearside in 2000 and went on to make 170 total appearances for the club during a six-year spell at the Stadium of Light.
Peter Reid brought him in from Argentinian side Argentinos Juniors for £3.5million and Arca went on to score on his home debut vs West Ham.
Leaving in 2006, Arca was signed by Gareth Southgate at Middlesbrough and he enjoyed a seven-year spell at the Riverside, making 185 total appearances for Sunderland’s north-east rivals.
Arca retired in 2013 but in 2015 joined non-league outfit South Shields in a surprise move, spending three years at the club, playing a key role in back-to-back promotions and two domestic cup wins.
In April this year, the National League North side appointed Arca as head coach, with another former Sunderland man in Tommy Miller joining as his no.2.
Julio Arca sacked as South Shields boss
South Shields announced the decision this morning that the club had parted ways with Arca and Miller.
From their opening 10 games of the season, South Shields won six and drew two, making for an impressive start to the 2023/24 campaign.
But after four successive defeats in the league, and only one win in seven, South Shields have sacked Arca, despite the club remaining in 8th place of the table; one place and two points outside the play-off places.
What next for Sunderland legend Arca?
Arca certainly leaves South Shields as a modern day legend.
He made headlines when he came out of retirement to join the club, playing a key role in their rise up the English football system and their stabilisation in the National League North.
Then as boss, Arca made a really positive start and looked set to go on and succeed with the club this season.
But a poor run of form has ended in his dismissal and it may prove to be a decision that divides opinion given South Shield’s strong league position.
Given Arca’s strong start though, there may be some National League North clubs who’d be willing to give Arca a chance, so it might not be long before we see the former Sunderland and Boro man back in the dugout.
And at 42 years old, he remains a young coach, so there’s every chance that we eventually see Arca a bit further up the pyramid, or maybe even in the Football League.