Herdal replaces Brayne as Sunderland Set Piece Coach

Herdal also worked with the Denmark national team as Assistant and Set Piece Specialist during their qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, which ended in a play-off final defeat on penalties to the Czech Republic in March.

At Sunderland, he replaces Brayne, who has left the club after 14 months. Brayne joined from Charlton in August 2025 to take charge of set pieces, although his title was Assistant Coach rather than Set Piece Coach.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have worked at Sunderland AFC and I wish everyone at the Club the very best for the rest of the season,” said Brayne.

He had spent the previous season as Set Piece Coach at Charlton, having first joined them as Individual Development Coach in March 2024.

Herdal worked with Head Coach Brian Riemer during his time with the Denmark national team. Riemer was previously Assistant to Thomas Frank at Brentford, a club renowned for their focus on set pieces.

“When I first came to Brentford I thought this focus on set pieces was a waste of time and resources and the players would never embrace it,” Riemer admitted in an interview in 2021. 

“I was obviously proved wrong. We believe there are about 60 set-piece situations in every game, which means it’s basically 60 times that you can potentially create a chance of scoring.

“I know you don’t do that every time but it’s 60 opportunities, and considering how much work goes into creating chances in open play, it makes sense to make use of all these situations.”

Sunderland are currently bottom of the Premier League, with four points from their first seven games.

Premier League Set Piece Coaches: