Sunderland could face competition from reigning Europa League champions Eintracht Frankfurt if they plan to replace Tony Mowbray with Red Bull Salzburg manager Matthias Jaissle.
Salzburg are famed for giving youth a chance. And we don’t just mean on the pitch.
In addition to Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane and co, the likes of Roger Schmidt, Adi Hutter, Jesse Marsch and Marco Rose made their name in the fabled Red Bull finishing school, going on to secure top jobs in the Bundesliga after making their name across the border at the perennial Austrian champions.
35-year-old Matthias Jaissle could soon be following in those footsteps.
Will Sunderland replace Tony Mowbray with a new manager?
Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt confirmed recently that Oliver Glasner will be leaving the Commerzbank Arena – 12 months after breaking Rangers hearts in Seville – and sporting director Markus Krosche has since admitted that talks to bring in Jaissle as his replacement have already taken place.
“I meet with coaches throughout the year. It’s nothing unusual,” Krosche explains to Kicker. “I have to know the market. That’s my job.”
According to talkSPORT, Jaissle is one of the frontrunners to take over at Sunderland too, Mowbray’s job seemingly in doubt despite working wonders at the Stadium of Light since Alex Neil jumped ship for Stoke City.
Mowbray took Sunderland to within the brink of a second successive play-off final, eventually losing over two legs to a streetwise and brilliantly-organised Luton Town outfit who did their best Diego Simeone-era Atletico Madrid impression at Kenilworth Road in midweek.
Matthias Jaissle in at the Stadium of Light?
Jaissle, nearly a quarter of a century Mowbray’s junior, would be a risky but potentially enthralling replacement. The former Mainz assistant is closing in on a second Austrian Bundesliga title in a row at Salzburg; winning 68 per cent of his games in charge while averaging over two goals per game.
Jaissle, like fellow Sunderland targets Francesco Farioli and Gerhard Struber, is renowned for his high-pressing, high-octane attacking football. A fine record for developing young talent, meanwhile, will appeal to the Black Cats.
Sunderland, against Luton on Tuesday, fielded 11 players aged 23 or younger.
“I’ve gotten into the habit of really hiding everything,” a coy Jaissle told the Suddeutsche Zeitung when asked about his future.
“I don’t want to have to resist the temptations. To deal with what might be and what could come would be a great waste of energy for me.”
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