Former Sunderland star Julio Arca has completed a sensational return to South Shields after he was named as new manager of the National League North-bound club.
The Mariners parted company with former Black Cats favourite Kevin Phillips last week after he led them to the Northern Premier League Premier Division title and there had been strong speculation suggesting Arca could replace his former team-mate at the 1st Cloud Arena.
The move to appoint the Argentinian sees him return to a club where he spent the final three years of his playing career, helping the Mariners to a historic quadruple that culminated in their FA Vase Final win over Cleethorpes Town in 2017.
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Arca was also part of the side that secured promotion into the Northern Premier League’s top tier 12 months later before he brought down the curtain on a playing career that had taken him from Argentinos Juniors to spells with Sunderland and Middlesbrough prior to his move into non-league football.
Just as his predecessor at South Shields had done 12 months ago, Arca will now embark on his managerial career with the Mariners and he is relishing the ‘fantastic opportunity’ he has been given by club owner Geoff Thompson.
Arca said: “It’s great to be back at the club after so many years. I firmly believe this is the right time for me to come back for a different challenge, and I’m very excited about it.
“The club has grown so fast, and this is a fantastic opportunity for me to become a manager for the first time, especially with the platform we have here. There is a lot of work to do between now and the start of pre-season but I’m very hungry to get started and help the club continue to progress.
“I like to compete. I’m not a person who is happy to sit in mid-table, and that’s why we need to get the right things done at the beginning. I will do the best I can to put South Shields in a great position next season.”
Prior to his time with Shields, Arca established himself as a favourite with Sunderland and Middlesbrough in the Premier League. He also won the Under-20 World Cup with his national side.
After retiring from professional football in 2013, Arca took his coaching badges and was part of the Academy coaching set-up at Sunderland before making a surprising return to the pitch in 2015 when he was coaxed out of retirement by Shields. What followed was a glittering, talismanic three-year spell which featured six trophies, three promotions and 120 appearances for the non-league side.
South Shields chairman Geoff Thompson said: “We are thrilled to welcome Julio back to the club and to provide him with his first opportunity as a manager.
“He was one of the main catalysts behind the growth of the club between 2015 and 2018, both on and off the pitch, and I’m very confident that many of the qualities he demonstrated in that time will translate excellently to his new role.
“It’s a hugely exciting time for the club and with Julio now installed, we are ready to finalise our plans for the season ahead in National League North.
“I’m sure our fans will be just as delighted as we are to welcome such an important figure in the history of our club back to 1st Cloud Arena.”
The Mariners have confirmed there will be further announcements over Arca’s coaching staff in the coming days as he kicks off his preparations for his first season in management.
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