"Certainly I am very disappointed to have left Sunderland but I am extremely honoured to have served this special club as their manager.

"When I arrived in October 2013, Sunderland had played 7 matches and lost 6, gaining only 1 point and they were bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

"31 matches later, at the end of the season, we had won 10 and drawn 8, taking us to the complete safety of 14th position.

"I will always remember fondly that miracle unbeaten run, a vein of form for which I was honoured to be shortlisted for the Barclays Premier League Manager of the Year Award.

"I leave Sunderland feeling proud of all of our achievements during my tenure, not least reaching the club’s first cup final in 22 years when we took more than 30,000 fans to the Capital One Cup Final at Wembley. Of the three Tyne-Wear derby matches since I joined the club as manager, I am very proud that we were able to win all three, two of which were away from home.

"I will never forget winning at Old Trafford last May, Sunderland’s first league victory there since 1968, which came shortly after beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

"This season, Sunderland remains the only team not to have conceded to Chelsea and the club has remained outside of the bottom three throughout.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chairman Ellis Short for giving me my first opportunity to manage in the Barclays Premier League, without a doubt the greatest league in the world.

"I also thank my staff for their valuable assistance, the players for all their efforts and, in particular, the fans who demonstrate such unbelievable passion for the club.

"I sincerely wish everyone connected with Sunderland the very best for the remainder of the season and beyond."





Notes to Editors:

Gus Poyet: Overall Managerial Record

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 10 Nov 2009 – 24 June 2013

P W D L %Win

194 86 59 49 44.3

SUNDERLAND 8 Oct 2013 – 16 March 2015

P W D L %Win

75 23 22 30 30.7

OVERALL

P W D L %win

269 109 81 79 40.5

HONOURS

BRIGHTON

2010-11 League One Champions

2010-11 League One Manager of the Year

2011-12 Football League Awards: Outstanding Managerial Performance



