5. Roy Keane
The Manchester United midfield legend began his managerial career with the Black Cats in 2006 back when the North East outfit were in dire straits, toiling at the bottom of the Championship and in real danger of relegation to the obscurity of League One. However, the Irishman transformed the ailing outfit and took them from 23rd position in the league to the top of the division, and won the Championship in only his first season as manager, being named "Championship Manager of the Year" in the process. He is largely credited with the revival that has followed since, but he ended up resigning from his post in 2008, citing differences with Chairman Niall Quinn as reasons for his departure. These days he works as a television pundit, but has
been tipped with a return to management recently - and with Quinn no longer Chairman at the club, could he return to Sunderland and rescue them from the brink of disaster once more?
Sky Bet Odds: 50/1