Dwight Yorke: Ex-Man United striker ‘wants the Sunderland job’
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Dwight Yorke has told Ladbrokes Fanzone that he wants to become Sunderland’s manager, explaining his relationship with the club and former Black Cats manager Roy Keane.
- “I was surprised at how big a club it was when I got there, but the fanbase is terrific. It’s a great stadium, it’s a great set-up and I can only assume things have improved further over the last few years in terms of the facilities.”
- “It’s a club that I’ve actually handed my CV into recently, if I’m honest, because I want the job. I know enough of Sunderland; I lived in the area for nearly three years, and so I understand the culture up there, and what the supporters want and expect from that team, and what the team means to them.”
- “The important thing would be to go in there and stabilise things. Most importantly, I’m a football fan through and through, and so the football aspect is my biggest concern.”
- “I hadn’t seen Keano for a few years before he was appointed as their manager. When he called me to ask me to join the club, I was just like “dude, I’m 35… what is this about?!””
- “He’s got all of the ingredients, Keano. I just think that the individual I know, and what is required of a manager nowadays – a modern coach who deals with every aspect of the football club – isn’t Roy Keane. I don’t think he’s cut out to be that way; you’ve got to be more of a people-person, and Keano’s never really been that.”
- “I think international management is more suited to Keano, where he can have control, get the players for a period of time, and pretty much f*** them off for a bit when they’re done.”
I want the Sunderland job…
I’ve always kept my eye on Sunderland, simply because I had a successful time there. Even though I was at the end of my career, getting them promoted and playing a part in things, it was probably one of my greatest achievements, in the sense that my role as a player had changed.
I was surprised at how big a club it was when I got there, but the fanbase is terrific. It’s a great stadium, it’s a great set-up and I can only assume things have improved further over the last few years in terms of the facilities.
Seeing the changes of managers, watching the team knock on the door for promotion, getting relegated to League One, I’ve seen a lot of Sunderland to know exactly what is going on up there.
It’s a club that I’ve actually handed my CV into recently, if I’m honest, because I want the job.
I know enough of Sunderland; I lived in the area for nearly three years, and so I understand the culture up there, and what the supporters want and expect from that team, and what the team means to them.
It’s very difficult to assess what’s going on behind the scenes when you’re not in it; you can only assume things. You can only assume things, and that can sometimes be a dangerous thought process. The important thing would be to go in there and stabilise things. Most importantly, I’m a football fan through and through, and so the football aspect is my biggest concern.
You’ve got to get the players to buy into whatever you’re doing; you don’t know what the relationship is like between board and management, and exactly what is going on. But, watching from the outside, you can only look at what’s going on on the pitch, and they’re underachieving, in my opinion. They should be far closer to the play-off spots, if not threatening the automatic spots.
That should be the expectation at a club like Sunderland. You know you’ve got a terrific fanbase and a fantastic stadium and that Sunderland is – or should be – a very difficult place to go and get a result if you’re the opposition. There’s a strong base to build from, and a club with a good record of winning promotion.
Roy Keane has all the ingredients, but he’s not cut out for club management
Sunderland was Roy Keane’s first job, and so he was still very much in that learning process, but I thought he was terrific there. I hadn’t seen Keano for a few years before he was appointed as their manager. When he called me to ask me to join the club, I was just like “dude, I’m 35… what is this about?!”
I was looking to retire and enjoy my football in Australia. But when football is in your DNA, it’s hard to turn down an opportunity like that. Especially when you’ve got a club in the Championship, and how much you always here that the division is one of the most difficult in the world to play in.
But it was pretty much a walk in the park, playing there, to be honest with you. We were in 23rd and then won the league in the April! It felt like a walk in the park for me, playing in that league. Everyone talks about how difficult a league it is, but I suppose if you think in that manner, then of course it’s going to be difficult. I just think your mindset plays a massive part in things, and I didn’t have that mindset because I was at the end of my career. It’s not for everybody, and I’ve always said that I’m a different kind of person.
He’s got all of the ingredients, Keano. I just think that the individual I know, and what is required of a manager nowadays – a modern coach who deals with every aspect of the football club – isn’t Roy Keane. I don’t think he’s cut out to be that way; you’ve got to be more of a people-person, and Keano’s never really been that.
I think international management is more suited to Keano, where he can have control, get the players for a period of time, and pretty much f*** them off for a bit when they’re done, and then get them again! He has that presence, and that aura… Keano has it all, but I just think an international job is much more suited to him. I’d take a chance on him internationally.
Roy Keane signed me without realised my position had changed!
I played in that holding midfield role for Trinidad and Tobago against England in the World Cup. I captained the team and played in holding midfield; it wasn’t that difficult: just get the ball, hold it, and give it to the players who can run faster than you! One of my strengths was in possession of the ball; I was never one for giving it away cheaply, so that was an easy transition for me.
Roy Keane didn’t know that I had made that transitional he thought that I still played in the number 10 role. But when you’re playing at that level, it’s a frustrating role to play because your teammates would very rarely see the pass quick enough to make it, and so I would drop deeper to get involved.
I think something happened where one of our players had got sent off, and so I dropped into midfield and dictated the play for the rest of the game, and then the following game, he came to me and said I’d be playing in midfield. But I don’t think he realised I was already playing in that position for my country and out in Australia!
