A former Sunderland manager may now be set for a shock move, with talks planned over his next potential job.
Sunderland are currently enduring a prolonged search for their next manager, having been without a permanent boss in place since the Black Cats sacked Michael Beale in February.
Sunderland are approaching four months since Beale’s exit and appear to be no closer to hiring their next manager.
It comes after owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus missed out on top target Will Still to RC Lens, then seeing back-up plan Liam Rosenior pull out of talks to pursue the Burnley job.
Who remains in the running to become the next Sunderland manager remains to be seen. But Sunderland fans are certainly growing tiresome of the search process.
The summer transfer window officially opens for business on June 14th and Sunderland will inevitably be set back in their summer preparations due to the managerial fiasco.
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman is coming under heavy scrutiny because of it, with journalist Michael Graham claiming that Speakman can no longer save his reputation among Sunderland fans.
But as Sunderland go on without a manager, it looks like Beale may now return to the dugout with a shock move.
Michael Beale set for talks with Maccabi Tel Aviv
An emerging report from The Sun says that Beale, 43, ‘could be set to replace’ former Premier League striker Robbie Keane at Maccabi Tel Aviv, in a ‘shock job move’.
The Sun adds that Beale is ‘one of the names in the frame’ at Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, after Keane left the club earlier this month.
Keane guided Tel Aviv to the Toto Cup and the Israeli Premier League in 2024, leaving the club with an impressive record of 42 wins in 57 games (73.68%).
The Sun say that Beale has been put forward for the job and that talks are ‘due to take place’.
Beale was last in management with Sunderland where he lasted just 12 games, winning four; after spells with QPR and Rangers prior to Sunderland, Beale now boasts a record of 44 wins in 77 games as a manager (57.14%).
What Michael Beale has to do after Sunderland fallout
There’s no doubting that Beale’s Sunderland tenure damaged his reputation in management.
His record however wasn’t terrible. But his communication skills and negative style of play was what got him the sack, and it looks like he may now have to start again.
Beale will have to rebuild his reputation as a manager and that might mean taking a somewhat rogue job outside of England.
He’d be inheriting a strong Tel Aviv side that Keane worked wonders with recently, and given Beale’s coaching background, he could be a good fit to come in and keep the side ticking over.
However, if Beale took the job and failed to get results, it would only serve to worsen his reputation, and dampen the idea of him ever returning to management in England.
So it’s definitely a move with a lot of risk involved for Beale.