Julio Arca has called for patience after his former Sunderland team-mate Kevin Phillips was appointed as new manager at Northern Premier League club South Shields.
The Argentinean midfielder became a cult figure during a six-year stay at the Stadium of Light and remained in the North East after joining Middlesbrough in the summer of 2006.
Arca retired from the game at the end of the 2012/13 season - but was tempted back into football when he made the surprise move to join South Shields two years later.
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Despite being at the veteran stage of his career, Arca became a popular figure at Mariners Park and helped the club to three promotions, two cup wins and a historic FA Vase Final win.
He retired in the summer of 2018 and has since returned to Argentina - but he keeps an eye on events at all of his former clubs.
Despite that, he was still surprised to see Black Cats legend Phillips appointed as manager of his final club over the weekend.
Arca was delighted by the news but believes patience is needed as his former team-mate adjusts to life in lead role in the dugout.
He told Chronicle Live: “I knew Kevin wanted to go into management at the right time and at the right place.
“He was at Leicester City, Derby County and Stoke City, and he got good experience with them but he wanted to be a manager.
“Moving to South Shields is a risk, but South Shields are giving him what he wants and that is an opportunity to show what he can do.
“He knows the risks, but if he does well at South Shields, doors could open for him.
“He is at a stable club, a well-ran club and he will have players in mind and ideas that he wants to put in place too.
“The club will want to try and give him what he wants to get promoted - but it’s never easy going in mid-season.
“Players will have to adapt to his methods and he will have to get used to the players.
“It may take time but everyone will have to be patient.”
Despite his calls for patience, Arca believes Phillips can become a success in his new role at the Northern Premier League Premier Division title challengers.
He backed the Mariners faithful to get behind the former England striker, just as they have done with his predecessors at the club.
He said: “I am sure the supporters are happy with the move and I am sure it was a surprise too - it certainly was for me!
“They will get behind him, just as they have with other managers.
“Kevin is a big name, he won the golden boot when he was at Sunderland and people have happy memories of his time at the club.
“It was a shock to see him going to my old club as a manager, but it’s also very exciting too.
“It’s great news to see him at South Shields and I am sure everyone will work hard to make it a success.”
Some have speculated Arca could return to the club to assist Phillips in his new role.
However, the Argentinian doubts that move will happen and seems happy to watch on from afar.
“Football is all about surprises but, at the moment, you never know, but I don’t think so,” he explained.
“I am happy for South Shields and for Kevin.
“I am enjoying the news and I hope he will be a success.”
Arca expressed his sadness at seeing Graham Fenton leave his role at the club.
Although it was former Mariners boss Jon King that initially persuaded Arca out of retirement to inspire an initial promotion, it was under the joint-management of Fenton and Lee Picton that he helped South Shields to new levels.
In the duo’s first season in charge, the Mariners landed a historic quadruple, including an FA Vase Final win against Cleethorpes Town at Wembley.
A Northern League title was followed by a Northern Premier League East Division championship that took the club into the third tier of non-league football for the first time.
Arca announced his retirement from the game in the summer of 2018 - but he still holds fond memories of working under Fenton and tipped his former manager to be a success if and when he decides to return to the dugout.
“I am sad to see Graham leave because you could see how professional he was.
“Even when we were semi-professional, Graham was a professional, he treated the players like we were professional and he has done a fantastic job.
“At South Shields, there was expectation every season and it is difficult.
“Maybe he will be better for having a break because he has been so successful during his time as a manager.
“He can recharge his batteries and I am sure there will be offers for him when he wants to come back into football.”
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