The frontrunners to become the next Sunderland manager
With Sam Allardyce now confirmed as England boss, Sunderland are left searching for their eighth permanent manager in as many years.
Shortly after the news of Allardyce's appointment with the national team broke, the Black Cats released a statement saying the club hope to appoint a new manager "at the earliest opportunity".
So who are the favourites to succeed Big Sam? We look at the frontrunners to become the next Sunderland manager.
David Moyes
Currently the bookies favourite, the 53-year-old certainly has the credentials to make him an ideal candidate with the Sunderland hierarchy.
The Scot has vast experience of the Premier League and earned plaudits for his work during an 11-year stint as Everton manager.
In 2013, Moyes was the 'chosen one' for the unenviable task of succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. But with the reigning champions sitting seventh in the league, he was shown the exit door at Old Trafford after just 10 months in charge.
In a bid to restore his managerial reputation, Moyes went to La Liga with Real Sociedad. However, his tenure in Spain lasted just over a year and he's been out of work since November 2015.
Steve Bruce
Following reports that the 55-year-old has resigned from his role as Hull City manager, he quickly emerged one of the favourites to replace Big Sam.
Like Moyes, he has a wealth of experience in the top flight and - in this instance - he has literally been there, done that and bought the T-shirt.
Bruce was manager at the Stadium of Light for two-and-a-half years and even guided Sunderland to top-ten finish in 2010-11. But he was then sacked after a poor run of form the following season.
He later admitted that he may have made a mistake taking the Sunderland jobbecause he's a Geordie.
The former Birmingham, Crystal Palace and Wigan boss was also interviewed by the Football Association for the vacant England job before Allardyce was appointed.
So after being overlooked by the FA, a return to Wearside may well be on the cards.
Ryan Giggs
After a trophy-laden career as a player and coach at Manchester United, Giggs ended his 29-year association with the club this month for a crack at management.
A four-game stint as caretaker at Old Trafford in 2014 is the 42-year-old's only managerial experience to date.
But as a player under Sir Alex Ferguson and as an assistant for two seasons under Louis Van Gaal, the Welshman has learnt from two of the best.
Sean Dyche
After guiding Burnley to promotion back to the Premier League for the second time, it may prove difficult for Sunderland to convince Dyche to leave Turf Moor this summer.
However, the 45-year-old has shown he can get the best out of teams despite having a limited budget and will surely be a name on the shortlist of many a Premier League club in the future.
Frank De Boer
After Dick Advocaat successfully guided Sunderland to safety in 2015, the Black Cats could turn to another Dutchman as the next manager.
De Boer's playing career included spells at Ajax and Barcelona, and he won four back-to-back titles with the Dutch giants during a six-year term as manager.
Having been linked with several Premier League jobs already this summer, the 46-year-old is currently available after leaving Ajax in May 2016.