SUNDERLAND, England – Gus Poyet has been hired as Sunderland's sixth permanent manager in less than five years, handed the task of reviving the fortunes of the last-place English Premier League club.
The 45-year-old Uruguayan signed a two-year contract Tuesday to replace Paolo Di Canio, who was fired last month. Sunderland has been coached on an interim basis since then by Kevin Ball.
Poyet has no previous Premier League managerial experience. He was fired by second-tier team Brighton in June.
Poyet takes over a Sunderland side at the bottom of the standings with just one point after seven matches.
Sunderland's American chairman, Ellis Short, says the club believes Poyet's "track record, experience, commitment and passion make him the right man to take us forward."
Sunderland's next match is at Swansea on Oct. 19.
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