Sunderland have moved to bolster their coaching ranks ahead of the 2026/27 campaign
Sunderland have confirmed that José Fonte will join the first-team coaching group this summer.
The former Southampton defender, who was also a Ligue 1 winner with Lille, called time on his playing career this year and will now bring his experience to Wearside. Fonte will begin his role on July 20th, shortly after Sunderland kick off their pre-season campaign at York City and ahead of their pre-season trip to the USA.
The club’s director of football Florent Ghisolfi said his experience of top-level football would be a big benefit to the club this season, as they compete in Europe for the first time in over 50 years.
Ghisolfi said Fonte has ‘strong leadership skills’ which will help compliment the current coaching group.
“José joins our coaching team with a wealth of experience as a player at the top level,” Ghisolfi said.
“He will bring that experience, along with tremendous energy, to a technical staff that is already performing outstandingly under the guidance of Régis. We believe those qualities, combined with his strong leadership skills, will add great value to our club as we look to push forward both in the Premier League and on the European stage. We’re delighted to welcome José to Sunderland AFC.”
Sunderland had been looking to bolster their coaching group after the departures of Pedro Ribeiro and Luciano Vulcano over the course of the last twelve months. As it stands, they will head into the new campaign with Fonte joining long-serving coaches Michael Proctor and Alessandro Barcherini, goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler, Chief Analyst Isidre Ramón Madir and set-piece coach James Brayne.
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