Sunderland hero reveals who would he ‘high on his list’ for next Black Cats head coach
Gordon Armstrong knows all about Paul Heckingbottom as the club look to appoint a new head coach this summer
Sunderland hero reveals who would he ‘high on his list’ for next Black Cats head coach
Gordon Armstrong knows all about Paul Heckingbottom as the club look to appoint a new head coach this summer
He was one of a handful of former players speaking at the launch of a Sunderland limited edition bottle of Jameson whiskey. Partnering with Classic Football Shirts, the bottle features Sunderland’s 1992 away shirt, paying homage to Sunderland’s iconic FA Cup final season.
“Overall he’s done a very good job. He seems to be a modern type of manager, he’s coached and all those things and played the game. He would be high on my list but we’ll see whether he’ll get a chance or not. Who knows, it’s not an easy thing to do to pick the right one.”
Armstrong fears Sunderland will lose one or two of their big players too and added: “That will be the interesting bit in the summer, because the plan and the model has always been to sell young players eventually so it will be interesting to see which ones could go. Jack Clarke is a big worry because he’s had a massive output in terms of goals. [Dan] Ballard too. There’s been some great signings and I’m very worried for Clarke. It would be a bit easier replacing someone like Ballard as a centre-half, who has done a tremendous job as well. But to find someone like Clarke again is tremendously difficult and will cost money.”
Armstrong touched on his successful time at the club and, asked for his best memory, he said: “Beating Newcastle in the play-offs, that was in 1990 wasn’t it.
“That’s my best memory because we drew the first game at home and everybody thought we were beaten, including all the media. They were rather joyous and thought they had it all won. So to go there and win was amazing so that’s probably my favourite memory. The Chelsea game [FA Cup quarter-final vs Chelsea in 1992 when he scored the headed winner] everybody remembers but my favourite memory of all was going there [St James’ Park] and beating them in the semi-final of the play- offs.”
The club has changed dramatically since Armstrong played between 1986 and 1996 and he added: “Building the Stadium of Light was the biggest change in Sunderland’s history. And that’s changed a lot of things. It’s a big old building and a lot goes on. So that’s probably the biggest thing that’s changed. “Football has changed radically too hasn’t it. In our time everybody played 4-4-2 and that’s how it was and there wasn’t really much talk about tactics or pressing or anything like that.
