Here, I will be naming my all-time favourite (not necessarily best) SAFC 11 from my experience of being a SAFC fan, compiling different players under different management in my time of being a supporter. Beware, I'm a part of the younger generation so don't complain if your favourite player is not here. These players might not be the best technically but they all have a special place in my heart alongside always bringing something to the table.
MANAGER - ROY KEANE
FORMATION - 4-4-2
GOALKEEPER: JORDAN PICKFORD
Where do I start? Arguably one of the best goalkeepers that Sunderland have seen in the past half century, he is a product of the Sunderland Academy, putting some seriously impressive performances in his short stint as the number one on Wearside. The game against Arsenal comes to mind in where he made the most saves that season in a game than any other match (11). He then set a British record for the most expensive goalkeeper (£30 million) in 2017 for his transfer to Everton where he has made a total 227 appearances for the club. Alongside a signed strip means he's above any other GK for me.
RIGHT BACK: PHIL BARDSLEY
Throughout my time as a fan no other right back has blown me away with their performances, but Phil comes close. A constant hard worker for the team, putting crucial tackles in games, he to me is my favourite. A memorable strike against former club Man United in the Capital One Cup semi final crowned off his SAFC tenure as he left after that season to join Stoke following six years at the SoL.
CENTRE BACK: NYRON NOSWORTHY
This could come as a shock as Nyron wasn't the greatest player by any means, but he was definitely a cult hero loved by fans. His clumsy runs down the right wing when he was deployed as a right-back at the start of his career at SAFC just to fall over when he would be able to put a cross in plus his Cruyff turns on the edge of his own box would top it off, his passionate playstyle at centre half when Roy Keane was appointed in 06’ made him a rock eventually winning player of the season for the 2006-07 season for his vast improvement. They tried to get the ball past Nyron, he said no, no, no!
CENTRE BACK: LAMINE KONE
To me, Lamine was a boulder of a centre half. A big boned 6ft 1in CB came to Wearside in the January of 2016 and straight away made an impression with a header against Man United which went down as an own goal. A surprise brace against Everton in May 2016 to save us from relegation and send the Mags down to the Championship. Following this he signed a five year contract but would ultimately leave after our relegation to League One and a loan to Strasbourg in the 2018-19 season followed by a permanent deal.
LEFT BACK: BRYAN OVIEDO
This position could have been filled by other players no doubt, but for me Bryan Oviedo takes it. The Costa Rican was a fan favourite at Sunderland during his two and a half years at the club. His debut consisted of a 4-0 victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, he was always capable of scoring a wonder goal just like the corker against Millwall in 2018. A man that would always put 100% effort every game, he managed 80 total appearances for the club before leaving in the summer of 2019 for a return to Danish club Copenhagen.
RIGHT MIDFIELD: FABIO BORINI
An Italian that made all SAFC fans bite their hand, who would have thought? Fabio was another fan favourite who, in his initial loan move in the 2013-14 season from Liverpool made us love him. The iconic goal against Man City in the Capital One Cup final in the 9th minute was great, plus a winner in the Tyne-Wear Derby against the Mags to seal victory, a crucial penalty against Chelsea in April made it Mourinho's first home defeat as Chelsea manager. You can go on and on for the goals that Borini scored for us that were important, he was that good. After a permanent deal in 2015, Borini would stay on Wearside for a further 3 years before leaving to join Italian giants AC Milan.
CENTRE MIDFIELD: LEE CATTERMOLE (C)
This man had balls of steel, was never afraid of a crunching tackle to roar on the fans. A promising young midfielder joined SAFC from Wigan all the way back in 2009 for a reported £6 million, then after being in and out of the Sunderland squad under Steve Bruce, he went on to have a great career with us compiling over 200 appearances for SAFC, the iconic photo of him standing over Jack Colback in the Tyne-Wear Derby is an all-time favourite of mine. A passion filled man would spend a decade on Wearside, spending his final season at Sunderland in 2018-19 before moving to Dutch football with VVV-Venlo before ultimately retiring in August 2020.
CENTRE MIDFIELD: YANN M’VILA
A loanee where every fan would have wanted it to be made permanent, even himself!!! The Frenchman joined the Black Cats in the summer of 2015 from Rubin Kazan with an initial loan deal with the view of it being made permanent, he was a presence in midfield alongside Jan Kirchhoff. M'Vila was a fan favourite to us SAFC fans and up there as one of my favourite Sunderland players ever gaining 37 Premier League appearances, it was frustrating that we never made it permanent as he could have been one of the best midfielders that SAFC have seen. He now plays his football for Greek side Olympiacos.
LEFT MIDFIELD: STEPHANE SESSEGNON
The Benin International was one of, if not the most technically gifted player the SoL has seen, his agile style of play complemented his small frame. Exciting, wonderful and creative is how I would describe him, a mini Maradona. Winning player of the season for the 2011-12 season, scoring in the 3-0 win against Newcastle, assisting David Vaughn's wonder goal as well. He played 97 times in red and white scoring 18 goals alongside being arguably SAFC's greatest African-born player. A favourite in many books.
STRIKER: ASAMOAH GYAN
Another cult hero for SAFC who is the leading all-time goalscorer for Ghana, Asamoah Gyan was a then record signing from Rennes for SAFC (£13 million) and his one season on Wearside was memorable. The goal on his Premier League debut against Wigan, the brace against Stoke on his first Premier League start, a goal in the standout 3-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and an equaliser against the Mags finally finishing his season with ten goals for the season. The Ghanaian then moved to UAE side Al Ain on loan before making it permanent, a cult hero is another great SAFC African player.
STRIKER: JERMAIN DEFOE
I can't put into words how impactful this man is on the pitch and off, his connection to the fans and especially Bradley Lowery, the charity work he has done doesn't give him justice. The fact that we were able to swap him with Jozy Altidore I will never know, a sublime volley against the Mags brought him to tears with it being one of the best goals I have seen. The man is just a genuine, caring soul. He grabbed a total 37 goals in 93 games in his first stint at the SoL before coming back in 2022 before his well deserved retirement and who can forget that feeling on deadline day when he came back, a shame he couldn't see it out to Wembley but regardless he will always be adored by Sunderland fans.
That concludes my all-time, favourite SAFC 11. It has everything you need in a side: skill, passion, goals.
