2025/26 OPPOSITION FOCUS: SUNDERLAND

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

As we gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign we take a closer look at our opponents

2025-07-11T07:00:00.000Z

2025/26 OPPOSITION FOCUS: SUNDERLAND

As we gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign we take a closer look at our opponents

2025-07-11T07:00:00.000Z

As we gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign we take a closer look at our opponents

Today we take a look at Sunderland AFC...

What’s their history?

Sunderland AFC, nicknamed The Blackcats, were formed in 1879 as Sunderland and District Teachers Association Football Club.

However the name was shortened a year later to remove the mention of teachers after the club allowed non-academics to join.

Sunderland played in local cup competitions and the FA Cup until joining the Football League in the 1890/91 season taking Stoke City's place. They remained in the First Division for 68 years, winning six league titles along the way being crowned champions in 1892, 1893 and 1895.

1898 saw the club move to Roker Park, which was to become Sunderland’s home for almost a century. Sunderland enjoyed success as the 20th century began with another title success in 1902, followed by a record-breaking 9-1 win at St James Park in 1908 against Newcastle United.

The club also secured a fifth top flight title in 1913 and also reached their first FA Cup final but suffered defeat to Aston Villa who clinched a 1-0 win.

In 1936 Sunderland were champions again. As well as making history winning their first FA Cup courtesy of a 3-1 win over Preston North End at Wembley. The team also included Bobby Gurney, who’s 228 goals remain a club record. Sunderland were relegated in 1958, but a top flight return was sealed in 1964.

In 1973, manager Bob Stokoe guided second-division Sunderland to their second FA Cup success, he also guided Sunderland back to the First Division in 1976, but the return was not consolidated and relegation once again followed before managers came and went in rapid succession during the 80s.

Furthermore in 1990, Sunderland were promoted once more in strange circumstances. After losing in the Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium, they were promoted anyway due to Swindon Town being refused entry to the top flight owing to financial misdemeanours.

2025/26 OPPOSITION FOCUS: SUNDERLAND - Image 1

Nine years later, after suffering defeat in the play off final a year before, Sunderland secured promotion with 105 points. They secured a seventh place finish in the top flight, their highest position in 45 years.

In 2008 Sunderland were promoted back to the Premier League and remained there until May 2017, when David Moyes’ side were relegated following a disappointing campaign.

A successive relegation followed under Chris Coleman, who replaced Simon Grayson following his dismissal in October 2017, as the Black Cats plunged into the third tier for only the second time in their history.

In 2021 Kyril Louis-Dreyfus acquired a controlling interest of Sunderland in December 2021 and their first victory at the new Wembley Stadium arrived soon after, as Lee Johnson’s side secured the EFL Trophy.

Promotion was secured the following season in 2022, with Alex Neil spearheading an incredible end-of-season run that culminated in a play-off final victory against Wycombe Wanderers.

The Black Cats secured a 6th place finish upon return to the second tier, followed by a disappointing 16th place spot in 2023/24, but it was third time lucky for Sunderland come last season, as Regis Le Bris guided the club back to the Premier League via the play-offs.

2025/26 OPPOSITION FOCUS: SUNDERLAND - Image 2

Stadium

In 1997, Sunderland bid farewell to Roker Park and moved into the Stadium of Light, which was built on the former site of the Monkwearmouth Colliery.

It opened with a showpiece fixture against Ajax in July 1997 and although the original capacity was 42,000, it subsequently increased to 49,000 in 2000.

Away from club football, the Stadium of Light has also hosted international football matches including a Euro 2004 qualifier between England and Turkey.

2025/26 OPPOSITION FOCUS: SUNDERLAND - Image 3

Last Season

The 2024/25 season was Sunderland’s 146th season in their history and third consecutive season in the Championship. The Black Cats had a great start to the season winning nine out of their first 12 games, putting them top of the table.

However, a run of five draws and a loss from their next six games dropped them into 4th place, where they remained until the end of the season to earn a playoff spot, despite losing their last five games.

Sunderland made the play off final at Wembley, after beating Coventry City 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals, they went on to beat Sheffield United 2-1 in the final to win promotion to the Premier League.

2025/26 OPPOSITION FOCUS: SUNDERLAND - Image 4

Who’s the boss ?

In June 2024, Sunderland announced Frenchman Regis Le Bris as their new manager. Sunderland was the first club Le Bris took charge of outside his home nation of France, after previous spells as a youth coach at Wasquehal and Rennes.

A short playing career that lasted between 1994 and 2003, the Frenchman started as a defender for Rennes. In 1999, he then moved to Laval, where he remained until 2002, before joining Belgian side Ronse until 2003.

Following the end of his nine-year playing spell, 2012 saw Le Bris move into coaching and join Lorient as Head of Youth Development and then eventually work his way all the way up to first team manager in June 2022.