Sunderland will walk out at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday for their first European match in 53 years the latest milestone in a remarkable recovery for a club that spent decades in the doldrums.
But they won promotion to the Championship in 2022 and climbed into the Premier League via the play-offs in May 2025, finishing a surprise seventh in their first season back in the big time. Despite their prolonged stagnation, the club, about 12 miles from bitter rivals Newcastle, remained one of the best supported in England, attracting crowds of 30,000-plus even in League One. Now the 49,000-capacity Stadium of Light, opened in 1997, is staging Premier League football again and preparing to host continental football for the first time.
The appointment of Regis Le Bris as head coach in June 2024 proved a masterstroke the Frenchman took the club back into the Premier League at the first attempt and they defied the odds last season. “It’s a symbol for the club. “It’s going to be a special night for the club against top opposition. I’m really proud to be part of this.”
We are getting better, the momentum is big and for our fans it is going be crazy to be fair,” Le Bris told TNT Sports. “Everyone here in Bournemouth is looking forward to this game,” said German coach Rose. Bournemouth, who travel to Spain to face Real Sociedad on Thursday, are yet to win in the Premier League this season despite leading in all four games after developing a frustrating habit of conceding late goals.
