The 50-year-old Scot cut his coaching teeth with Sunderland's reserve team during Quinn's playing days at the club.
He made such an impression that Sir Alex Ferguson took him to Manchester United as second string coach in November 2002.
And Sbragia's growing reputation saw him poached two years later by Trotters boss Sam Allardyce to become his right-hand man.
Now recognised within football as one of the best coaches in the English game, Sbragia's knowledge of Sunderland makes him a genuine, if unsung, contender for the top job at the Stadium of Light.
Meanwhile, Jared Borgetti is expected to be sidelined for Mexico's remaining group games in the World Cup because of a hamstring injury.
The marksman suffered the injury during his team's 3-1 victory over Iran in his country's opening World Cup clash.
Mexico team doctor Jose Luis Serrano explained that it could take up to a week-an-a-half for the injury to heal, commenting: "It seems like we have a serious injury. On Wednesday we are going to carry out an examination. Injuries like this could take seven to 10 days to heal."