INTERVIEW
“ Another priority is finding new ways of doing the same thing every day – otherwise training can be dull and they might switch off .”
And talking of switching off , how does he relax in what is a notoriously pressurised and stressful business ?
“ I spend time relaxing with my family – I have three boys aged 18 , 15 and 13 , and I love to watch them play on a Sunday , and just spending time as a family .
“ We got a dog – a cockerpoodle – during lockdown and I enjoy walking him along the beach between Redcar and Marske . People stop me for a chat , but I don ’ t mind , I ’ m always happy to give people some time .
“ I also love the cinema and the theatre and find them relaxing .
“ But it ’ s not something you can switch off from , I live and breathe football .”
And as he understands , and any business leader knows , success is based on results .
Unlike other leaders , however , he knows the eyes of the whole city are on his team .
MOWBRAY factfile
Tony , or Mogga to many within football , had a long and distinguished playing career – making a combined total of 670 appearances for Middlesbrough , Celtic and Ipswich Town – where he entered the world of football management in 2002 as caretaker boss following the sacking of George Burley and the appointment of Joe Royle .
In the years since then , he ’ s managed Hibernian ( 108 games , 2004- 2006 ); West Bromwich Albion ( 140 games , 2006-2009 ); Celtic ( 45 games , 2009-2010 ); Middlesbrough ( 153 games 2010-2013 ); Coventry City ( 76 games , 2015-2016 ); Blackburn Rovers ( 267 games , 2017- 2022 ). Tony joined SAFC as head coach in August 2022 .
He ’ s known as a head coach who likes working with , and developing , young talent – which is exactly what he ’ s doing with his SAFC team . Last December Sunderland fielded the youngest team in the English game up to that point in the season when thrashing Wigan 1-4 away . wear . business – the voice of business for the Wear region | 23