FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said: “We are extremely disappointed to see Chris’ tenure as Wales manager come to an end.

“The FAW and Wales as a nation will be eternally grateful for the job he has done over the last six years as national team manager, from travelling the length and breadth of Wales outside of the media spotlight to talk to players and supporters, to guiding us to the semi-finals of the European Championships.

“We wish Chris the very best of luck for the future as he returns to club management, a desire for which he has always been honest and open about.”

Assistant manager Kit Symons has also resigned and is expected to join Coleman at the Stadium of Light.

Sources on Wearside insist Coleman is the only man to have been offered a contract by Sunderland to succeed Simon Grayson amid speculation that Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill had turned down an opportunity to manage the club.

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