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Ahead of our return to the Sky Bet Championship, learn more about all 23 of our opponents

2024-07-17T08:00:00.000Z

IN FOCUS: SUNDERLAND

Ahead of our return to the Sky Bet Championship, learn more about all 23 of our opponents

2024-07-17T08:00:00.000Z

Ahead of our return to the Sky Bet Championship, learn more about all 23 of our opponents

Founded originally for a year as ‘Sunderland and District Teachers’ in 1879, the Black Cats were then formally created in 1880 and became a member of the Football League 10 years later.

Sunderland picked up the first of six top-flight titles to date in 1892 and the historically successful club have also won the FA Cup twice, most recently in 1973.

Over the course of the club’s history, with over 60 years spent in Division One up until 1958, the North East side have only spent 38 seasons outside of the top-flight and only five of those below the second tier.

After promotion back to the Premier League in 2007, Sunderland spent a successful nine years in the top-flight, before back-to-back relegations saw the Black Cats spend four years between 2018 and 2022 in League One, with promotion sealed back to the Championship two years ago.

2025/26 OPPOSITION FOCUS: SUNDERLAND - Image 1

The Black Cats secured a 6th place finish on their return to the second tier, but a play-off semi-final defeat to Luton denied Sunderland an opportunity of consecutive promotions.

Stadium: Stadium of Light (49,000) – Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, SR5 1SU

Nickname(s): The Black Cats

Manager: Regis Le Bris

2023/24 finishing position: 16th

2023/24 top scorer (all competitions): Jack Clarke (15)

Played for both -

Steven Caldwell –

Caldwell joined Sunderland from Newcastle ahead of the 2004/05 Championship campaign and helped the Black Cats achieve promotion to the top-flight in his first season at the Stadium of Light. The Centre-back played over 70 games in three seasons for Sunderland before leaving the North East in January 2007 to sign for the Clarets. Caldwell became a regular amongst the starting XI over the next two-and-a-half seasons in the Championship and played an integral role as Burnley enjoyed a League Cup run and secured promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs at Wembley in 2009. Injuries unfortunately hampered the Scotsman’s season in the Premier League as the centre-back only played 13 games before departing in 2010 to sign for Wigan Athletic.

Stanislav Varga –

In the summer of 2000, the defender arrived in the North East from Slovan Bratislava and made his debut with an impressive display in a 1-0 victory over Arsenal. Varga then grabbed his first goal for Sunderland in a 2-0 win against West Ham in January 2001. After three years at the Stadium of Light, the centre-back signed for Celtic but returned to the Black Cats three years later ahead of the 2006/07 campaign. Midway through his second season back with Sunderland, the defender joined Burnley in January 2008 on loan. Varga impressed on his debut against Plymouth which saw him named in the Team of the Week.