What Paulo Di Canio first said when he was appointed Sunderland AFC manager - It did not end well | OneFootball

How the controversial Italian started a short stint in the North East

When Paolo Di Canio was unveiled as Sunderland's new head coach in April 2013, the club’s leadership might have expected a fresh jolt of energy and discipline to steer them clear of relegation.

What they received instead was a firestorm of political controversy, a PR crisis, and a combustible managerial tenure that flared up almost as quickly as it fizzled out.

Vice-chairman David Miliband stepped down from the club’s board within hours of the announcement, citing Di Canio’s past political statements. Fan unrest followed, with the Durham Miners’ Association requesting the removal of their banner from the stadium in protest.

“I am the unique one” - Di Canio’s controversial first words at Sunderland

In his first press conference, Di Canio made headlines by declaring himself “The Unique One,” a self-styled twist on José Mourinho’s famous moniker.

Visibly irritated by repeated questions about whether he was a fascist, Di Canio dismissed the media’s focus as “ridiculous and pathetic,” adding: “My life speaks for me so there is no need to speak anymore about this situation.”

Despite Sunderland’s efforts to steer the conversation away from politics, journalists continued to press him. The Italian refused to categorically deny links to fascism, insisting instead that “this story has to finish.”

He portrayed himself as a misunderstood figure: “I am a manager, a normal man, a family man... I will work 24 hours a day. You can’t do any more than this.”

He argued that success on the pitch would win over doubters, saying: “It was exactly the same at Swindon... I am sure in the future they will do the same here.”

Di Canio rejected calls to meet with critical fans such as the Durham Miners’ Association, who had demanded the return of a banner displayed at the Stadium of Light. In response to David Miliband’s resignation from the club board over his appointment, he was characteristically blunt: “I am sorry for him because he has lost a chance to stay at a big club... He has probably left in a period where we will have the most success.”

On the touchline, he promised intensity: “It can happen that I kick my players’ bottoms, but hopefully only when we are celebrating.”

With sweeping backroom changes and his trademark firebrand style, Di Canio’s tenure was never going to be quiet, but it also wasn’t destined to last.

What happened: From derby delight to dressing room mutiny

Di Canio was appointed at the end of March 2013 after the dismissal of Martin O’Neill, with Sunderland mired in a relegation battle.

His debut match was a 2-1 defeat away at Chelsea, but his second game brought immediate hero status with fans: a 3-0 victory over fierce rivals Newcastle United at St James’ Park - the Black Cats' first away derby win in over a decade.

He followed that with a home win against Everton, which helped push Sunderland toward safety.

Despite a crushing 6-1 defeat to Aston Villa and two subsequent draws, Sunderland avoided relegation after Wigan Athletic were defeated by Arsenal with one game left. Di Canio had achieved the short-term goal he was hired for.

However, the cracks were already showing. In the summer of 2013, the team underwent a major squad overhaul, with 13 new players arriving and experienced names like Simon Mignolet and Stéphane Sessègnon departing.

The start of the following season was disastrous. After five games, the Black Cats sat bottom of the table with just a single point. Following a 3-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion, Di Canio was sacked on the 22nd September 2013.

Club CEO Margaret Byrne later revealed that senior players had approached her with serious concerns about Di Canio’s “brutal and vitriolic” criticism, leading to a breakdown in relations.

Di Canio, for his part, denied that player unrest led to his dismissal. But with only 13 games in charge and a legacy overshadowed by controversy, the fiery Italian’s time at Sunderland