Everything Oxford United fans need to know about Michael Beale as fresh appointment news emerges
Michael Beale is reportedly closing in on becoming Oxford United’s new manager after they moved to relieve Gary Rowett of his duties on Tuesday morning.
Rowett was sacked by Oxford with the club sat 22nd in the Championship after a run of just one win in their previous 10 games.
Their 1-0 loss to Charlton Athletic on Saturday was his final act in charge, and the U’s chiefs are now looking to appoint a new boss ahead of a tough Boxing Day clash against Southampton.
Former Rangers boss Beale has been linked to the vacant Oxford job following Rowett’s dismissal, as he looks to bring a 22-month spell out of management to an end soon.
The 45-year-old has taken charge of two Championship clubs in his relatively short managerial career so far, and Football Insider have taken a look at his record in the division up to now.
Beale was a clear success at QPR but failed as Sunderland manager
Beale became an esteemed coach after his short playing career ended when he was 21, with stints in charge of youth teams at both Chelsea and Liverpool from 2002 to 2017.
He joined Steven Gerrard as a first-team coach at Rangers in 2018, and helped the club win their 55th league title in the 2020–21 campaign before moving to Aston Villa with the Liverpool legend in 2021.
Beale took his first job as a manager at Queens Park Rangers in June 2022, where he was an overawing success in his short time at the helm.
He won nine of his 22 games in charge of the club and had them top of the Championship in October, which was when he turned down the chance to become Wolves’ new boss.
Beale soon controversially left QPR to return to Rangers as their new manager a month later, but was unable to lift any silverware at Ibrox and was sacked after 10 months in the job following a poor start to the 2023-24 season.
| Club | Games managed | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win percentage |
| QPR | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 40.91% |
| Sunderland | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 33.3% |
The 45-year-old was appointed as Sunderland boss in December 2023, but lasted just 63 days in charge as he was criticised by their expectant fanbase for his management style and tactics.
He won just four games of his 12 in charge of the Black Cats, and lost the Wear-Tyne derby 3-0 while at the helm, with his stint becoming the shortest of any manager ever in charge of the club permanently.
Beale wants to return to management after a long spell out
Football Insider revealed in May that Beale had been interviewed by Hull City as they sought a replacement for Ruben Selles, but he missed out on that job as Sergej Jakirovic was hired instead.
He has worked in football since leaving Sunderland, with a short stint as Gerrard‘s assistant at Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq between November 2024 and January 2025.
In an interview with Sky Sports in August about his time out of the game and what he feels he has learnt, Beale expressed a desire to return to management, as he said: “Yeah, I’m having a fantastic period of reflection and learning and growth. I’ve been to over 12 countries watching football.
“I’ve done some bucket list things in that as well, and obviously some much-needed time at home with the family, but I’d be lying if, watching some of the games this weekend, (I) don’t want to be back in (management). That is the ultimate aim.”
The 45-year-old may well be back in the dugout soon at the Kassam Stadium, and if so, Oxford fans will hope that his time in charge is more akin to his spell at QPR than his time at Sunderland.