Jermain Defoe has thrown his name into the hat for the vacant managerial role at Sunderland - which would see the former Rangers striker replace Michael Beale in Wearside.

Beale was dismissed by Sunderland after just 12 games on February 19. Black Cats' first-team coach Mike Dodds has assumed the interim managerial role, yet a streak of only one victory in seven games has dashed Sunderland's English Championship play-off aspirations.

The likes of Paul Heckingbottom, Steve Cooper and Will Still are the bookies favourites to take over from Beale at the Stadium of Light.

However, Defoe, who's currently under-18s boss with Totttenham Hotspur would love the opportunity to a take charge of a club he played 100 times for during a career spanning 23-years.

Speaking to The Mirror, he said: “The Sunderland job? Why not? Even when I was a player, I always used to say I'd love to manage this club. If I got an opportunity, I wouldn't shy away from it, so let's go.”

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Defoe is preparing for a managerial career and believes that his time under Steven Gerrard as a player/coach at Rangers will greatly benefit him in facing future challenges.

He added: “I hear people talk about needing experience. My experience is working with young players, understanding what they need and it forces you to coach.

“I love football, everyone knows that, I've always loved football. I was lucky enough to have a good career and then you finish football and for me that transition has been quite smooth because I went straight into coaching.

"I've put my CV into a few clubs and had conversations, just conversations to see where I'm at in terms of my badges. A lot of people don't remember but I had the year experience at Rangers as player/coach, so I was exposed to that level.”