SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 3: Sunderland unveil new loan signing Salis Abdul Samed at The Academy of Light on September 3, 2024 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
He’s a real asset’ Régis Le Bris is the calm head leading Sunderland’s revolution
The Black Cats sit top of the Championship after the first nine games
Top of the Championship at the second international break of the season, Sunderland fans would have snapped your hand off for that had you told them that would be the case midway through their 132 wait for a permanent manager.
The Black Cats parted company with Michael Beale after a disastrous 66days in charge, before handing the job to Mike Dodds on an interim basis until the end of the season. The Wearsiders thought they’d agreed a deal to make Will Still their new head coach, before turning them down for RC Lens.
It was a saga that risked undoing all of their good work to return to the Championship. After all, the Black Cats finished last season just six points above the drop zone, with one of the division’s worst run of form in 2024 – only relegated Rotherham United picked up less points in the calendar year.
Fast forward to present day and all that misery and mire has been put to one side. Regis Le Bris has shown he’s far from just an ‘Option B’ on Sunderland’s managerial shortlist. The French head coach has the Black Cats top of the Championship and has done so in quite some style.
