Sunderland last night named Tony Mowbray as the club’s new head coach following the shock departure of Alex Neil.

Mowbray has signed a two-year contract at the Stadium of Light and returns to the Championship after a three-month hiatus following his departure from Blackburn when his contract expired.

Neil led the Black Cats back into the second tier through the League One play-offs, but quit to take over at Stoke at the weekend.

Mowbray oversaw Sunderland’s final preparations for the side’s game against Rotherham tonight before finalising his move to Wearside.

The 58-year-old said: “I grew up in the North East and I always remember my experiences at Roker Park with great fondness – the emotion, passion and size of Sunderland AFC.

“This is a huge opportunity to continue the good work that has taken place over the past two years and I hope the supporters can see that this football club is on its way back.

“It is a journey – I’ve just come from Blackburn Rovers and like here, it was a rebuilding process – but we want to win and we will be aggressive.

“The players must understand what they are fighting for because they are the standard-bearers for the city and, win, lose or draw, we must ensure those who come to watch us see a team that gives everything in every game.”

The 58-year-old was in attendance for Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against Norwich City at the Stadium of Light which ended in a 1-0 defeat.

Kristjaan Speakman, Black Cats' sporting director, added: "We have absolute clarity in the principles by which we are working and believe Tony is best placed to support our continued growth as a club.

"We have great admiration for the work that he has undertaken in previous roles and throughout our process, he was able to clearly evidence his alignment to our ambitions.

"He has the personal values that we want to promote and that our supporters will naturally respect, whilst also possessing a strong understanding of the region and the people we represent.

"We have an abundance of enthusiasm, energy and ideas at the Club and I have no doubt that Tony’s influence will go far beyond the field of play."

On Monday, his new club faces his old. It’s the Tees-Wear derby against Middlesbrough, the club Mowbray managed between 2010 and 2013.

He has also had spells in charge of Hibernian, West Brom, Celtic and Coventry City.

MK Dons boss Liam Manning was also linked with the position, but Sunderland have opted to go with experience in Mowbray, a man who has been in management for nearly 20 years, predominantly in the Championship.

Mowbray becomes the Black Cats' third head coach in 2022 following the sacking of Lee Johnson in January and the departure of Neil over the weekend.