Sunderland have appointed Sam Allardyce as manager on a two-year contract.

Dick Advocaat quit Sunderland on Sunday with the Black Cats second-bottom of the Premier League and winless in their opening eight games.

Allardyce, 60, has been out of management since he left West Ham at the end of last season.

"Of course it's a challenging job. But I hope to be able to help to bring the stability and success that everyone wants," Allardyce said.

"I'm looking forward to working with the players and of course I will be relying on the help of the Sunderland supporters."

Allardyce had a spell at Sunderland as a player between 1980 and 1981 and becomes the first person to manage both the Black Cats and rivals Newcastle.

His first home game at the Stadium of Light will be against Newcastle on 25 October, with an away trip to West Brom before that on 17 October.