Michael Beale was part of a turbulent 2023/24 season at Sunderland.
Sunderland endured a choppy 2023/24 season in the Championship; their second season back in the second tier.
In the end, the Black Cats finished just six points above the Championship drop zone.
It was a near-miss for Sunderland who were shocking in the second half of last season, winning just four games after New Year’s day.
Tony Mowbray, Michael Beale, and then Mike Dodds were the managers in place at the Stadium of Light last season.
Beale though was by far the most controversial, most disappointing, and most disliked of the three.
Sunderland appointed Beale in December 2023. But the 44-year-old would last just 12 games on Wearside, winning four before being axed.
His tenure was rife with controversies; from the Trai Hume handshake to the anonymous social media accounts thought to be Beale, his tenure was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
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What is former Sunderland manager Michael Beale up to now
Since his exit from Sunderland, former QPR and Rangers boss Beale has been linked to the odd job.
Beale was linked with Maccabi Tel Aviv earlier in the year, though that link quickly died down.
More recently, Beale was thought to be in the running for the vacant Stoke City job, but the Potters look set to look elsewhere.
Right now, Beale remains unemployed. But he’s giving the occasional interview, wherein Sunderland is often a talking point.
Last month, Beale said on his time at Sunderland: “From the moment I got in, it was clear that the fans were not aligned with the decision of letting Tony Mowbray go.
“They really liked Tony Mowbray, so when I came in it was difficult. If I’m honest, it’s the only club where I’ve not enjoyed working.
“I think everybody that was involved in it went into it with the right intentions, but it wasn’t the right fit.”
Sunderland fans are right behind Regis Le Bris
The managerial situation at Sunderland has certainly calmed down.
Sunderland appointed Regis Le Bris over the summer and fans have quickly warmed to him; not only for his positive playing style and the subsequently positive results, but also because he comes across very well in the media.
That was arguably Beale’s biggest downfall at the club, and he’ll no doubt have learned a lot from his time at Sunderland.
Whether or not Beale returns to football anytime soon remains to be seen. But his reputation has certainly been damaged following his time in the north-east.