Nickname(s): The Black Cats, The Mackems
2008/2009 Position: 17th
2007/2008 Finish: 15th
Coach: Ricky Sbragia (Scotland)
Stadium: Stadium of Light (49,000 capacity)
Key Players: Steed Malbranque, Djibril Cisse, Kieran Richardson
History:
Sunderland was founded in 1879 as Sunderland and District Teachers. Though they have won the first division several times, they have not procured any major trophies since 1936. Despite their record of poor play, the team has some of the most devoted supporters in the league. They also make more noise than other teams’ fans, with their volume being measured at 129.2 deafening decibels last year.
Keane, the club’s manager, is only 37 years old, which makes him one of the youngest managers at football’s top level. I like Keane, and not just because he called FIFA Vice President Jack Warner “a clown”. He gets a lot out of this squad, who lack the talent of many of their opponents. He better continue to get the most out of them though, otherwise they will be sent back down very shortly.
The team’s chairman is one of its former players, Niall Quinn, an Irishman who took the pitch over 200 times for the Black Cats. After retiring from playing, Quinn was a Sky Sports pundit for a little while before taking the reins in Sunderland in 2006. His decision to bring in Keane was very controversial, since the two reportedly hated one another after Keane was sent off in the 2002 World Cup.
Legends: Charlie Buchan, Bobby Gurney, Jimmy Montgomery
American Sports Doppelganger: The Kansas City Chiefs
2008/2009 Prediction: 19th
