Mannone says Allardyce did a tremendous job at Sunderland

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The Black Cats keeper has wished his former boss the best of luck in his new challenging role as England manager.

Full of praise: Sunderland’s Vito Mannone

Vito Mannone has told the Sunderland Echo that former manager Sam Allardyce did a tremendous job at the club, one that should provide a solid foundation from which new manager David Moyes can build.

Moyes was appointed Sunderland boss on Saturday, a swift appointment by chairman Ellis Short following Sam Allardyce’s decision to take his dream job as England manager.

Allardyce is challenged with restoring pride in the national shirt after back-to-back tournament embarrassments.

Former Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce is the new England boss

His pedigree is good, as last season he guided Sunderland to safety despite his appointment coming midway through the campaign.

And it is the stability he founded at the Stadium of Light that has drawn such high praise from his goalkeeper, who also went on to wish his former manager luck in his new job.

“I’ve had a few managers now, like most of the boys in the dressing room but it is a new start again, so we want to be optimistic and think positive” Mannone told the Echo.

“It is a football thing that can happen at any time and it has happened a few times to Sunderland, we know what we have to do.

“We have to be professional, train day in and day out as we did in Austria while the situation was a little bit uncertain.

New man at the helm: David Moyes

“We can just wish the best of luck to Sam Allardyce; for me he has been a very good manager for the club and thank him for everything he has done for us.

“Now we take on board the new gaffer, his ideas, his rules, because we want to kick on and carry on in a positive way.

“This time round we have a solid base because the last gaffer did a tremendous job.”

Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe celebrates with Vito Mannone

Mannone has now been based in the North East for the past three years, having found first-team opportunities at former club Arsenal few and far between.

He has developed into a safe pair of hands in England’s top flight, and has recently been linked with moves to bigger places, with the Chronicle reporting interest from Napoli recently.