Former England star Jermain Defoe has expressed interest in becoming the next manager of Sunderland. The Black Cats recently sacked Tony Mowbray following a 1-1 draw against Millwall. Defoe, who has already had two spells at the club, took to social media to tease a potential third stint at the Stadium of Light. With Sunderland currently sitting ninth in the Championship and in need of a new boss, Defoe's name has come as a surprise among the list of contenders.

Ready for the Job

In a tweet, the 41-year-old striker shared an amusing photo of himself in a suit, wearing a red and white tie, captioned "Old pic, but ready for the job." He also tagged Sunderland's official profile, suggesting his interest in the managerial position. Defoe last played for Sunderland in March 2022 and has since had limited senior managerial experience.

Contenders for the Role

Aside from Defoe, there are several other contenders for the vacant Sunderland manager position. This includes recently sacked Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom, Plymouth's Steven Schumacher, and John Eustace, who has been out of work since his Birmingham sacking. Sunderland's board will need to make a quick decision as they face a crucial clash against West Brom on Saturday.

Tyne-Wear Derby on the Horizon

Sunderland is set to face Newcastle in the third round of the FA Cup, marking the first Tyne-Wear derby in almost eight years. Defoe, who made 100 appearances for Sunderland across two spells, will be hoping for a successful managerial appointment to lead the team into this highly-anticipated match.

Inspiring Black Coaches and Managers

Since his retirement in 2022, Defoe has returned to his old club Tottenham as a club ambassador and academy coach. The East London-born star aims to inspire more black coaches and managers in the game as he considers a potential managerial role at Sunderland.