MY SAFC XI

Over the years I have been supporting Sunderland, I have had the privilege to watch some fantastic footballers in the flesh. Throughout different eras, different managers and different leagues, there has always been a select number of players who truly get what it means to put on the red and white stripes. Here is my all time favourite Sunderland XI of my lifetime. Not the best, or the most expensive, but the collection of players who had the most impact on me as a supporter.

GK: JORDAN PICKFORD

Academy graduate from Washington, Pickford managed to perfectly encapsulate what it meant to be from Sunderland. He played with that confidence and grit that you would only find in a local lad. During the 16/17 season, Jordan stood out in a struggling Sunderland side, pulling off save after save and commanding his area. A proper player.

LB: DENNIS CIRKIN

Signed for a fee in the six figures, Cirkin would prove to be one of the best pieces of business the club has ever done. The Spurs academy graduate joined The Lads in League One ahead of the 21/22 season. He would help propel the Black Cats to the Europa League via two promotions and a seventh place finish in the topflight. All of this was achieved during Dennis’ five season spell with Sunderland.

CB: JOHN O’SHEA

Spending 7 seasons on Wearside and making 256 for the lads in red and white, O’Shea became one of the most dependable figures of Sunderland’s Premier League era. The Irishman brought consistency and a reliability to the pitch. Whilst the defender wasn’t the flashiest or the most technical player on the pitch, John O’Shea certainly deserves his spot in my team thanks to his unwavering commitment.

CB: LUKE O’NIEN

Since joining the club in 2018, it is safe to say that O’Nien has established himself as a modern day Sunderland legend among fans. From being hooked at half time against Charlton on his debut in the depths of League One, all the way to the Europa League, Luke O’Nien has definitely earned his nickname of “Mr Sunderland” over recent years.

RB: TRAI HUME

Signed from Linfield in the summer of January 2022 and costing a total of around £200,000, Hume proved to be yet another excellent piece of transfer business conducted by Kristjaan Speakman. With the 24-year-old having made a staggering 172 appearances for the Black Cats already, the Northern Irish international has firmly written his name into Sunderland folklore, being one of the Lads to experience the rise from League One to Europe. And that’s not even mentioning his love for a slide tackle.

CDM: LEE CATTERMOLE

Lee Barry Cattermole was the physical incarnation of everything that Sunderland fans expected in a midfielder. Whilst Catts wasn’t the greatest footballer I’ve ever seen play, he brought a fire and passion to the team that couldn’t be bought with money alone. And I don’t think anyone will be able to forget that tackle on Jack Colback.

CM: SEB LARSSON

When I think of technical brilliance in a Sunderland shirt, one of the first players that springs to mind is undoubtedly Sebastian Larsson. Bringing someone of his calibre in on a free transfer was a no brainer, especially given his rich Premier League experience with Birmingham. Making just under 200 appearances for the lads and scoring a memorable goal against Man Utd, which would be the decisive factor in a historic 0-1 victory at Old Trafford, the Scandinavian rightly claims his spot in midfield.

CM: ENZO LE FEE

How on earth did we manage to convince this man to play in the Championship? I’ll never know. Enzo arrived on Wearside and became an instant fan favourite thanks to his ridiculous technical skill. Making his initial loan move permanent as Sunderland achieved promotion to the Premier League for a price of around £20m, the Frenchman reached an outstanding 12 goals and assists in his second season with the club. That isn’t even including his double nutmeg on “Big Dan Burn” and so-called best left back in the world Lewis Hall, which helped secure a famous win at St. James’ Park.

LW: FABIO BORINI

During the unforgettable 13/14 season, Borini cemented himself as a legend throughout the streets of Sunderland by scoring in three consecutive games against them lot, including that unforgettable strike to seal a 2-1 victory on home turf. The Italian lived for the big moments and pressure didn’t seem to have any effect on him. He earns his spot on this list for his derby moments alone.

RW: PATRICK ROBERTS

Roberts is one of those players you can’t help but love. Whilst his output wasn’t the greatest in the world, his ball carrying and technical ability is up there with some of the best I’ve ever seen in a red and white shirt. In the Championship, he would glide past players effortlessly, and then inevitably fail to find his pass or finish the chance, but that’s what made him so charming. For me, Roberts was completely box office. He got fans on their feet every single week. For that reason, he fits into the RW spot.

ST: JERMAIN DEFOE

Signed on a free contract in January 2015, Defoe scored 37 goals on Wearside in three seasons at the club. The English international already had bags of experience at the highest level, but no one could predict the influence this signing would have on the club and the wider community of Sunderland. Outside of the big moments, derby day screamers and massive goal outputs, Jermain became even more beloved among the community due to his beautiful relationship with Bradley Lowrey. The connection he made showed the world exactly what type of person he was, and for that reason he is definitively a legend in Sunderland.