Sbragia, a 52 year old Scot, has been handed an 18-month contract by chairman Niall Quinn as the reward for his four matches in charge as caretaker.

That run has brought two victories, a draw and a single narrow stoppage-time defeat away to Manchester United.

Sbragia succeeds Roy Keane, who resigned earlier this month in the belief he had taken the club as far as he could.

Quinn said: "We have been taken aback by how easily he has slotted into the managerial role and are really heartened by his intelligent approach in dealing with the players and the day-to-day rigours of the job.

"Ricky took up the reins when we were at low ebb and has without doubt revitalised the club, he is the unanimous choice."

Sbragia is a very popular choice with the players, some were even heard shouting "give him the job" during a post match interview on Match of the Day.

"I'm sure all of our fans, and the players too, will give Ricky their full backing in his first senior management position."

Sbragia, preparing for Sunderland's game at Everton tomorrow, said: "I'm delighted to have been offered the opportunity to manage a club as big as Sunderland and I'm relishing the challenge ahead.

Chairman Niall Quinn: "My main priority is moving up the Premier League table and ensuring we have unity and stability at the club.

"I've been extremely pleased by the commitment shown by the players to date and the support we have all received from the fans. We travel to Merseyside this afternoon and I can hardly wait."

So just who is Ricky Sbragia?

Sbragia, 52, joined Sunderland from Bolton a year ago, as first-team coach.

Prior to his appointment as first-team coach at Bolton in 2005 he was reserve-team coach at Manchester United for three years.

Sbragia was youth and later reserve-team coach at Sunderland between 1994 and 2002.

A Scot of Italian descent, born in Lennoxtown, Stirlingshire, his career spanned from 1974 to 1985, playing for Birmingham City, Greenock Morton, Walsall, Blackpool, York City and Darlington.

He commenced his coaching career with York City in 1987 before joining Sunderland in a coaching capacity in 1994. At York, he developed a successful youth side, several of his former charges were in the City side that knocked Manchester United out of the 1995–96 Football League Cup. Graeme Murty, Jon Greening, Richard Cresswell and Darren Williams went onto gain England Under 21 honours.

He moved to Manchester United in 2002 and built up a successful reserve side, nurturing the fledgling talents of Kieran Richardson and Darren Fletcher, amongst others. He was appointed as first-team coach of Bolton Wanderers on 10 October 2005. After the departure of Sam Allardyce from Bolton on 29 April 2007, Sammy Lee was appointed as manager of Bolton, until the end of the season, with Sbragia retaining his position as first-team coach alongside Jimmy Phillips and Gary Speed.

Sbragia rejoined Sunderland's coaching staff in November 2007, and was appointed as caretaker manager following the departure of Roy Keane on 4 December 2008. He took charge of the team for their match against Manchester United, which was lost 1–0. This was followed up with a 4–0 victory over West Bromwich Albion and a 4–1 win at Hull City, although Sbragia remained coy over the possibility of taking over permanently. He was appointed as manager on a permanent basis on 27 December on an 18 month contract.

I'v very pleased that Ricky has been given the job as he's had an excellent start and the players seem to like and respect him. Sbragia has experience working with some big name managers in the form of Alex Ferguson and Sam Allardyce.

I hope he can bring in the winning mentality from Old Trafford into the Stadium of Light and lift us up the table.

Ha'way the Lads

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