Sunderland football chief Lee Congerton is confident of making a big impact on Wearside.
Congerton left his job at Hamburg to return to England.
"Sunderland were bottom of the league when I joined and a few asked me what I was doing," he told the Sunderland Echo.
"But I did my research and had a feel for the club and I felt they were in a false position.
"I had other opportunities in England to do this role, but Sunderland was the one club where I thought, 'I fancy this'.
"It's an area where football is so important to people and that's the way I think too.
"I want to be the best director of football I can be.
"The role exists everywhere else in the world except England and I had opportunities to go to other countries as well but I wanted to make my mark back home.
"And my father is really proud because he's from the North East and he spoke of how big a club it is and I feel I can make a difference here."
