Source: The Guardian Sport
Flag-carrying Sunderland fans walk over the Keel Crossing bridge prior to the home Premier League match against Wolves.Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenFlag-carrying Sunderland fans walk over the Keel Crossing bridge prior to the home Premier League match against Wolves.Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty ImagesSunderlandSmells like team spirit to Régis Le Bris as Sunderland confound the doubtersThe willingness of players to put the side’s best interests ahead of their own has fostered a sense of togetherness that has reaped rewards on the pitchLouise TaylorMon 3 Nov 2025 03.00 ESTLast modified on Mon 3 Nov 2025 03.35 ESTShareA wheel turns full circleWhen David Moyes resigned as Sunderland’s manager in May 2017, after acalamitous 10 monthsculminating in relegation to the Championship, he waived all entitlement to a payoff. Moyes knew he had failed but, in mitigation, he inherited a poisoned chalice, something arguably confirmed as the club swiftly plummeted into League One. Now Moyes is back in his Merseyside comfort zone and Sunderland have finally returned to the top tier. When he leads his Everton team into the Stadium of Light, the Scot may be startled to see players of the quality of Granit Xhaka, Enzo Le Fée, Nordi Mukiele and Reinildo wearing red and white stripes. That quartet arrivedfrom Bayer Leverkusen, Roma, Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid respectively. And to think Moyes regularly reiterated the belief that top footballers would not relocate to Wearside because they invariably wanted to live in the London or Manchester areas. Despite that, club sources indicate not one prospective signing queried its geography this summer. Much as the local council is attracting outside investment and IT professionals by rebranding Sunderland as a technology hub situated in “the city by the sea”, the football club is fast becoming a magnet for ambitious young players from across Europe.Unity behind the scenesSunderland made 14 signings during a revolutionary summer. That would usually spell turmoil, but Régis Le Bris has kept the old guard fully on side. So far at least, the revolution is proving of the velvet rather than the bloody variety. Luke O’Nien and Dan Neil were club captain and team captain respectively last season, but while O’Nien retains his role, Neil’s was given to Xhaka in July. Rather than sulking, Neil and O’Nien – substitutes rather than starters these days – have helped the Switzerland captain and former Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder helm the dressing room, ensuring it does not splinter along old guard/newcomers lines. When Chemsdine Talbi’s late goal secured a2-1 win at Chelsea, it seemed significant that Neil and O’Nien were first to leap off the bench and congratulate their teammates.View image in fullscreenNoah Sadiki of Sunderland pushes teammate Chemsdine Talbi towards the travelling away fans at Chelsea.Photograph: Ian Stephen/Action Plus/Shutterstock“It was a very positive reaction,” …
Published: 2025-11-03T08:00:26
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