Sunderland: Dick Advocaat stays as boss after signing new deal

Dick Advocaat was in tears when he led Sunderland to Premier League safety

Dick Advocaat has performed a U-turn and will stay as Sunderland head coach after accepting a new one-year deal.

The Dutchman told newspaper De Telegraaf: "The club kept calling."

The 67-year-old said back in May he no longer wished to continue his career in club management, having led the Black Cats to Premier League safety.

Advocaat joined the club in March until the end of the season, replacing the sacked Gus Poyet, with the side one point above the relegation zone.

The veteran was offered a new deal at the end of the 2014-15 season, but had told the club "it is better to stop now", before being persuaded to change his mind.

The club's sporting director Lee Congerton said he had been "in constant contact" with Advocaat, adding: "Dick was always our number one choice and we were determined we weren't going to take 'no' for an answer."

"In just a short space of time he has bought into the club wholeheartedly" - Congerton on Advocaat

Chairman Ellis Short said: "Sunderland fans took him to their hearts and so did everyone at the club."

Black Cats striker Jermain Defoe said Advocaat has the support of the club's players.

"The lads love him because he came in and was honest and is a nice man," he said.

"When you achieve something like staying up, it's difficult to walk away from that, sometimes as a professional you want another challenge."

Speaking about his decision to return, Advocaat said: "After a lot of discussions with Ellis and Lee, they convinced me that I am the right man for the club.

"It was a great feeling to be part of Sunderland in the last few months, the experience was something very special and after talking with Lee, Ellis and of course my family, we all agree it is the right decision."

Advocaat was in tears as he secured Sunderland's Premier League survival with a goalless draw at Arsenal in their penultimate game of the season.

The former Netherlands boss, who managed Scottish club Rangers between 1998 and 2002, lost his first Premier League game in charge of Sunderland at West Ham.

But they went on to record three wins and three draws in the remaining eight games to pull clear of relegation, including a 1-0 win over North East rivals Newcastle.

Prior to joining Sunderland, Advocaat won the league title and cup double twice at Ibrox, and league titles in his homeland with PSV Eindhoven and in Russia with Zenit St Petersburg.

He also led Zenit to victory over Rangers in the 2008 Uefa Cup final and Manchester United in the Uefa Super Cup later that year.