Sunderland considered Hoddle before Poyet appointment
Sunderland considered Glenn Hoddle for the manager's job before going with Gus Poyet.
According to The Daily Star Sunday, the ex-England boss was not officially approached by the Black Cats but was sounded out by a third party.
That followed Hoddle, 55, being recommended to owner Ellis Short by a highly- respected football figure.
It seems, though, that both Sunderland and Hoddle himself were unsure about the ex-Tottenham hero taking over at the Stadium of Light being the right move.
Poyet, somewhat ironically, was a player under Hoddle at White Hart Lane.
Hoddle has taken up a position on new FA chairman Greg Dyke’s commission into improving the England team.
That, long term, could prove to be significant, because Hoddle’s dream job would be a return to managing the Three Lions.
He lost that post 14 years ago, after controversial comments about disabled people.
But he was a highly-regarded England manager with an impressive win ratio of 60 per cent.