The former Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday boss has left his job as England technical director to take up the Stadium of Light post.

Steve Cotterill, who quit as Stoke manager on Wednesday, will be Wilkinson's assistant.

Wilkinson, who, along with Cotterill, was unveiled at a news conference on Thursday, said: "I relish the challenge ahead here at Sunderland.

"It is clear to me that this is a club with a proud tradition, huge and faithful support and in the Stadium of Light and academy, facilities that will be second to none.

"I feel that I have benefited massively from my time as technical director at the FA.

"It was a great opportunity to take a step back from the narrow focus that club management can have and look at the new and modern developments that were occurring in the game.

"I am very grateful to Adam Crozier and the FA for understanding that the position at Sunderland is challenging and exciting at this stage in my career.

"I am really looking forward to working closely with Steve to develop what is on paper already a strong squad at Sunderland.

"Steve has established a tremendous reputation within the game in a relatively short space of time.

"With my experience and Steve's undoubted ability, I see bright and exciting times ahead for Sunderland Football Club and its supporters."

Cotterill, 38, joined Stoke only in May after guiding Cheltenham Town from the Conference to Division Two.

He said: "I've got mixed emotions, leaving Stoke after a short space of time there, but that was eclipsed when I knew I had the chance of coming to Sunderland."

Sunderland chairman Bob Murray said: "I know Howard is hungry for a new challenge and very ambitious to achieve things at Sunderland.

"In the short term, the priority must be to improve our league position and secure our Premier League status.

"Once we have achieved that we will need to consolidate to get back to the position we had progressed to before we can move forward and build on this."

Wilkinson was last in charge of a top-flight club in September 1996 when he was sacked by Leeds four years after leading them to the title.

He has been told that no money will be available to him for new players when the transfer window opens in January.

Peter Reid was sacked on Monday after more than seven years as manager at the club.