How Sunderland secured European football for the first time in over 50 years

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sunderland/WSzc94ws/"]Black Cats[/a] will play in the Europa League in the 2026/27 season, making trips across the continent for the first time since 1973.[/p][p]A seventh-placed finish was secured after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/sunderland-WSzc94ws/?mid=40PohCS7"]a 2-1 victory against Chelsea on the final day[/a] of the 2025/26 campaign - but that would only tell a minuscule part of what has been a dramatic journey.[/p][p]Here, [b][i]Flashscore[/i][/b] takes a look at how Sunderland defied the odds to make a dream that not long ago so many thought far-fetched, a reality.[/p][embed guid="829dbeb5-3adf-45e0-90ee-7c491fe3e3ad" url="https://x.com/SunderlandAFC/status/2058594937432588632" social-type="twitter" /][h2]From the doldrums of League One[/h2][p]Sunderland were last in the Premier League in 2017, but suffered back-to-back relegations to drop into the third tier by 2019.[/p][p]They languished there through the pandemic, Euro 2021, several false dawns, and even at one point looked at serious risk financially.[/p][p]Their relationship with League One ended just four years ago, when the Black Cats finished fifth, but won the play-offs in the same campaign that saw them lose 6-0 to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bolton/Or1bBrWD/"]Bolton[/a], 5-1 to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/rotherham/KMfM7P4b/"]Rotherham[/a] and 4-0 to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portsmouth/zckREQFJ/"]Portsmouth[/a].[/p][p]Some promise followed in the Championship with a sixth-placed finish before an unsuccessful play-off campaign, and they regressed to 16th in the 2023/24 season.[/p][p]That disaster led the Black Cats to the appointment of the almost completely unknown Regis Le Bris. And that is where their redemption really caught fire.[/p][embed guid="6322016a-dea6-4c76-a11a-7bd27d95abd3" url="https://x.com/SunderlandAFC/status/2043751068073365917" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Sunderland's greatest manager of the modern era?[/h2][p]Le Bris' arrival was met with plenty of uncertainty after he oversaw a relegation with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lorient/jgNAYRGi/"]Lorient[/a]. But he fit the bill for what Sunderland were looking for in a coach that is adaptable and, crucially, exceptional at working with young talent.[/p][p]The Frenchman began his career as a youth coach in France before eventually landing in senior management at Lorient and then heading over to England.[/p][p]He has a doctorate in physiology and biomechanics, as well as a diploma in the mental training of high-level athletes.[/p][p]His impact in Sunderland was felt from day one - they lost just three league games before Christmas, and once it became clear that their play-off spot was secure and automatic promotion was out of the question, perhaps Le Bris' expertise, shown in his academic qualifications, shone through.[/p][p]He heavily rotated his side for the last five games of the season; the Black Cats lost all five matches. Questions were asked across the footballing world as Sunderland had lost one of the key ingredients to any play-off campaign - momentum. [/p][p]The other side of that coin, though, is that key players were fully fit and fresh for the three biggest matches of the season. And Sunderland went on to score in the 88th minute of their semi-final first leg, the 123rd of the second leg, and the 95th of the final en route to promotion.[/p][p]Those late goals vindicated an incredibly gutsy call from Le Bris, and ultimately proved his credentials as a manager fit to lead the Black Cats. [/p][embed guid="997d2318-8d0c-48fe-8eb8-429cb78fc08a" url="https://x.com/SunderlandAFC/status/1927003150713585891" social-type="twitter" /][h2]A Premier League campaign to remember[/h2][p]Promotion to the top flight ushered in a new era for Sunderland, with several stars of the Championship let go on and off the field.[/p][p]Sporting Direct Kristjaan Speakman oversaw their summer transfers alongside incoming Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi before moving on.[/p][p]Captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neill-daniel/llzuvFwP/"]Dan Neil[/a] and play-off heroes [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/roberts-patrick/llCwLjA8/"]Patrick Roberts[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/patterson-anthony/SW6BPQ1d/"]Anthony Patterson[/a] were all let go, with big names coming in the other way.[/p][p]The summer transfer window will go down in history as Sunderland's best, with a reported £160 million spent on 14 new arrivals.[/p][p]Several of those to join the club are now regarded by supporters as some of the best to ever play for Sunderland.[/p][embed guid="9f83e5b8-4f41-4235-8fa7-824869249dab" url="https://x.com/SunderlandAFC/status/2058598929592132054" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/xhaka-granit/QBHCDKff/"]Granit Xhaka[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/le-fee-enzo/hC5yfF2A/"]Enzo Le Fee[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mukiele-nordi/MoObMvb7/"]Nordi Mukiele[/a] particularly stood out across the campaign - while younger talent like [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/roefs-robin/Ao7TtUZn/"]Robin Roefs[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sadiki-noah/UJnCIUV6/"]Noah Sadiki[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brobbey-brian/pfAvgQUT/"]Brian Brobbey[/a] also contributed effectively.[/p][p]Of the 14 signed, you could argue that just two did not work out, which is an incredible hit rate for a newly promoted club.[/p][p]While the star names often took the headlines, though, plenty of the old guard stepped up to the challenge. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hume-trai/CfLIw4XG/"]Trai Hume[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ballard-daniel/b7is4eSG/"]Dan Ballard[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rigg-chris/lUGYPTIg/"]Chris Rigg[/a] took to life in the Premier League seamlessly, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/o-nien-luke/4Us2mRTf/"]Luke O'Nien[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/isidor-wilson/veOg2tx3/"]Wilson Isidor[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mayenda-eliezer/bufbUZ9r/"]Eliezer Mayenda[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cirkin-dennis/SpvC0hEg/"]Dennis Cirkin[/a] all contributed when called upon.[/p][p]The Black Cats started with a 3-0 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/west-ham/Cxq57r8g/"]West Ham[/a] on the opening day and rarely looked back, beating rivals [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle[/a] twice, doing the double over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a], and going unbeaten at home until mid-February.[/p][p]The blend of such an impressive squad with a tactically astute manager guided Sunderland to European football in a season that no supporter will forget for a very long time.[/p][h2]Final day victory over Chelsea[/h2][p]Sunderland went into the final day needing to beat Chelsea and hope that either [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brentford/xYe7DwID/"]Brentford[/a] failed to win or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brighton/2XrRecc3/"]Brighton[/a] lost (or both).[/p][p]A win combined with one of those results would have secured a Conference League spot. All three coming true saw the Black Cats into the Europa League.[/p][p]Supporters lined the streets to welcome their team bus before the match and set the tone for an unforgettable afternoon at the Stadium of Light.[/p][p]With Xhaka, Mukiele and Le Fee taking the game by the scruff of the neck in a dominant first-half display, it seems fitting that the opening goal was scored by a combination of two players who have been on Wearside since their days in League One.[/p][p]O'Nien flicked a long ball on for Hume to volley home and send the stadium wild. Just when fans didn't think it could get any better, the new guard pitched in with the second after an exceptional move from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/geertruida-lutsharel/zwx6dFjk/"]Lutsharel Geertruida[/a], Le Fee and Brobbey resulted in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gusto-malo/YNCrLSO2/"]Malo Gusto[/a] turning into his own net.[/p][embed guid="dbfb5ae2-e2db-46bc-9f8b-1181fcf7f30d" url="https://x.com/SunderlandAFC/status/2058654275178529232" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/palmer-cole/h8agbDt7/"]Cole Palmer[/a] pulled a goal back for Chelsea before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fofana-wesley/Aw7tVHPM/"]Wesley Fofana[/a] was shown a second yellow card for pulling down Isidor, and the Black Cats went on to see the game out and seal victory. All eyes then turned to Brentford and Brighton.[/p][p]The Bees could only draw at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a]. Brighton were thrashed by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]Manchester United[/a]. And exactly one year on from winning the play-off final, Sunderland confirmed their spot in the Europa League.[/p][p]May 24th will go down in history as an iconic day for Wearside, in more ways than one.[/p][p]The players split apart to celebrate across the pitch, fans cried tears of joy, and Le Bris embraced his fellow staff members as confirmation of their European status came through.[/p][p]Just four years ago, Sunderland were celebrating a play-off win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/wycombe/hl2V5JIl/"]Wycombe[/a] to get out of League One. Now, supporters will feel like the sky is the limit for this squad of players and management.[/p][p]As far as return seasons go in the Premier League, the Black Cats couldn't have hoped for much better.[/p][embed guid="a6bb7881-62bb-4921-9ec6-06f1991b2fd9" url="https://x.com/SunderlandAFC/status/2058680189325037897" social-type="twitter" /][image alt="Ali Pollock" id="0c74c339-89d0-4b89-adfc-beedff6979c3" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="8300bba8-541d-4fa8-b39e-42f32fceb0e6" original-width="1200" original-height="380" /]