COACHING UPDATE

Sunderland have announced a reshuffle within the coaching staff which includes a few positive additions to the backroom ranks.

The experienced Luciano Vulcano joins the club as Assistant Head Coach, subject to international clearance. He is a former AC Milan coach and more recently the Assistant Manager of Al-Nassr, the club of Cristiano Ronaldo. Before working at AC Milan, Vulcano also held roles at Fiorentina and Inter Milan.

Secondly, Isidre Ramon Madir is set to arrive on Wearside with the title of Assistant Coach and will take the lead on opposition analysis. He has previously worked at clubs such as Barcelona, Valencia, OGC Nice, Paris Saint-Germain and also the Spain and Iraq national teams. He is so highly-regarded by Luis Enrique that the pair have worked together at Barcelona (both the first team and B team), Celta Vigo, PSG and the Spanish national team. His time at Barca overlaps with when the Spanish giants won the treble in 2014/15.

The third addition to the coaching lineup is experienced goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler, who will lead the club's goalkeeping programme and take responsibility for senior goalkeeper development. He is one of the most respected goalkeeping coaches in England having held roles at West Brom, Aston Villa and Wolves. With Sunderland clearly targetting a top quality goalkeeper this summer perhaps Cutler, aged 48, will be able to make use of his contacts.

Cutler's arrival allows Alessandro Barcherini, formerly Head of Goalkeeping, to maintain his position of Assistant Coach having held the role on an interim basis last season. He will focus primarily on the team's defensive unit and individual development plans.

The club’s new coaching structure also includes Michael Proctor and Pedro Ribiero, who will continue to undertake Assistant Coach roles.