25/26 Team Overview - Sunderland

The Black Cats

Author

nick lochner
August 15, 2025

1879

Sunderland

2024/25 Finish - Promoted

Won The Championship Playoff

The Best Club You May Have Not Known. Sunderland FC is a Medium-Large club with great history, it’s just been a while since they’ve lifted trophies, the last being in 1973. In their history the club has only spent 5 seasons outside of the top 2 levels of English Football, 4 of those seasons were 2018-2022. So, if you are somewhat new to the EPL you probably have not heard of Sunderland. Kinda like NFL fans under the age of 40 who may not know the Chicago Bears play in the league.

Great Supporters. According to the International Centre for Sports Studies, Sunderland FC has the 38th highest average attendance for Soccer in the World - higher than big clubs like Juventus in Italy and Porto in Portugal and consistently average in the top 20 across England. When Sunderland fell to League 1 in 2018, they set the all-time attendance record for that league at over 46,000 fans. This club is in position to stay in the PL if they can get over this first season back.

Eight Years. It’s been 8 years since Sunderland has been in the PL, and 4 of those were in League 1 (Level 3). After winning the Championship promotion playoff at the end of last season The Black Cats have pretty much turned over their entire roster in hopes of buying PL level talent. In fact, Sunderland spent the 6th most in terms of (sales - acquisition) in all of Europe this off-season, net -$125M. They brought in 11 new players. Looks like they are pulling out all the stops to stay up.

Regis Le Bris. The Frenchman took over at the start of last season and delivered a promotion, but there are questions around his ability to coach at the PL level. In France’s top league, Ligue 1, he was relegated the season before coming to Sunderland. Le Bris focuses on defensive solidity. He will need to find goals if he wants to keep Sunderland in the PL.

The Club

Located in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear (Northeast Coast)

Stadium of Light, 49,000 capacity

Rough estimates

$50M Annual Revenue

$20M Player Payroll

Logo at Stadium of Light

History on the Pitch

  • 6 Titles, last in 1936

  • 2 FA Cup, 1973

  • 0 Europe Cups

Sponsorship

Home

Away

Ownership

Sunderland Limited. Kyril Louis-Dreyfus (Swiss-French businessman) acquired a majority stake of Sunderland in 2021 at age 23 purchasing 41% and then increasing that to 64% in 2022. Kyril is heir to the Louis-Dreyfus Group, a global commodities empire with $36B in value.

The Louis-Dreyfus Company - LDC

“Our diversified portfolio covers the entire agriculture and food value chain, from farm to fork. We rely on our global reach and extensive asset network to deliver for customers and consumers around the world – safely, reliably and responsibly.”

Biggest Rivals

  • 12 miles separate the clubs.

  • In 157 matches Sunderland are 53W 50D 54L.

  • The first meeting took place in 1883.

  • The rivalry is rooted in the English Civil War of the 1600s

AND

  • 23 miles separate the clubs.

  • In 155 matches Sunderland are 64W 50D 37L.

  • The first meeting took place in 1887.

  • Some consider this a lesser rival than Newcastle due to the distance, but for people who live on the south side of Sunderland, and the proximity to the Teesiders, the rivalry is much more intense.

The Culture

Sunderland is a port town at the mouth of the River Wear on the North Sea about 10 miles South of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Sunderland, and in particular St Peter’s Church (founded in 674 AD) was a significant learning center of its time. Sunderland then became the “largest shipbuilding town in the world” making more than 25% of the ships in the world. with a passionate, working-class community based on industrial heritage of Wearside. The fanbase reflects its history, resilient, ambitious and spirited.

Mackem. A nickname given to the residents and people of Sunderland. It is also a name for the local dialect and accent, AND for a fan of Sunderland. A Mackem is not to be confused with a Geordie. A Geordie is distinctly from Newcastle, has its own dialect and roots for Newcastle United. A Mackem has significant differences from a Geordie, just ask the locals, and is specific to the City of Sunderland and the urban area of Wearside.

Sunderland ‘Til I Die. In 2018 the sports documentary series, Sunderland ‘Til I Die, was released on Netflix and ran for three seasons. The series starts with Sunderland having been relegated from the PL into the Championship and captures the deep connection to its working-class supporters and the city’s history. It’s worth your time. Th series covers the clubs surprising relegation down to League 1 (Level 3) when they probably thought they were covering what would be a promotion back to the EPL. Its authenticity inspired Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds to buy Wrexham and document their seasons in Welcome to Wrexham.

Sunderland v Aston Villa

One of the earliest soccer paintings in the world was created when Thomas MM Hemy painted a picture between Sunderland home to Villa.

Thomas MM Hemy

The tree is for the “New Forest” in the south of England, the water is the connection of river and sea, and the flower is a white rose, the symbol of the city.

Supporters You May Recognize

  • Jordan Pickford (yes, the Everton Keeper who was born there and played for their academy).

  • Jordan Henderson (yes, the Liverpool captain who was born in Sunderland and also played for the club’s academy)

Song

Wise Men Say (Link to YT)

Based on the song Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley, this song is played before kickoff of each match since the 1990s.

Wise men say, “Only fools rush in,” But I can’t help falling in love with you. Sunderland! (Clap, Clap, Clap) Sunderland! (Clap, Clap, Clap) Sunderland! (Clap, Clap, Clap)

Game Day Pub Guide

Fan Sites

Official X

@SunderlandAFC

High Follows on X

@RokerReport (60k)

@WMS_Podcast (25k)

@WeAreSunderland (2k)

The Team

The Gaffer

  • Regis Le Bris (France), 49yo.

  • Most of Le Bris’ managerial career was with French side Lorient from 2012-2024, starting in the U17 squad and working his way up to the first team.

  • In his first year at Sunderland, he led the team to promotion to the PL.

ODDS

  • To Win League +125,000

  • To Be Relegated -340

Roster Notes

Full Roster click link

CS Projected to finish 20th

  • Enzo Le Fee

  • Simon Adingra

  • Chris Rigg

  • Habib Diarra

  • Daniel Ballard

Goalkeeper

  • Robin Roefs or Anthony Patterson (who started last season)

Stadium of Light

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