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Chris Coleman has left his job as Wales boss to become manager of Sunderland, sources have confirmed to ESPN FC.
On Thursday, sources said that Coleman was the top candidate for the job, and multiple reports on Friday said Sunderland have convinced him to take over at the Stadium of Light.
Coleman's future as Wales manager has been in doubt following their failure to qualify for next summer's World Cup finals in Russia, and he sources said he left his role on Friday after talks with the Welsh FA failed to come to a successful conclusion.
Sunderland, who parted company with coach Simon Grayson 18 days ago, hope to finalise a deal for Coleman in time for him to take charge against Aston Villa next Tuesday, sources said.
Coleman will inherit a Championship club in a state if flux on and off the pitch with financial constraints having severely hampered predecessors David Moyes and Grayson and the Black Cats in danger of suffering successive relegations.
They lie at the foot of the table ahead of Saturday's clash with Millwall, for which Robbie Stockdale will be in charge, and have not won a league game on their own pitch since December last year.
Taking the Sunderland job will mean a return to club management for the first time in five years for Coleman.
The 47-year-old took his first job when 33, managing Fulham after retiring early due to injury. He took them to ninth in the Premier League but lost his job in 2007 and moved to Real Sociedad.
Coleman spent six months in Spain before returning to England with Coventry but left two years later before a short spell with Greek side AEL. He was appointed as Wales manager in January 2012, taking over in tough circumstances following the tragic death of Gary Speed.
Success came, albeit slowly, with Wales missing out on the 2014 World Cup before qualifying for the 2016 Euros where he really made his name.
Coleman signed a two-year deal prior to that tournament but speculation over his future has raged ever since.
Information from Perss Association Sport was used in this report.