Jump To:The CoachKey PlayerLast Season's ResultsTop ScorerLessons From Last YearMost Likely To...Least Likely To...View From The StandsFixturesTitle OddsFFT VerdictCopy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterGiven the extraordinary feats of Regis Le Bris' plucky side over the past year, Sunderland's outlook going into this season is wildly different to last.Ahead of 2025-26, everyone expected an inexperienced Black Cats side to be battling for survival after their Championship play-off triumph.Instead, they produced one of the stories of the season, finishing seventh and immediately qualifying for the Europa League.Can Regis Le Bris' men shock the world once more?Le Bris blended the core that took Sunderland up with a series of ambitious signings, including Nordi Mukiele from PSG and Brian Brobbey from Ajax.Granit Xhaka was arguably the Premier League's signing of the season, rocking up 12 months after a near-flawless campaign at Bayer Leverkusen to bring leadership and composure to the newly promoted side. Two more core additions, Noah Sadiki and Omar Alderete, were less heralded but no less impressive. You may like Ipswich Town have returned to the Premier League as fast as they fell from it in 2025, but will they be better prepared for survival this time around? Ipswich Town 2026-27 season preview Brighton staggered to the Conference League qualification finish line last season, but will they enjoy the fruits of their labour? Brighton 2026-27 season preview Unai Emery's Europa League champions are the most likely non-Big 6 side to disturb the Premier League title race - Aston Villa 2026-27 season preview The Stadium of Light quickly became one of the league's most difficult away trips. Sunderland's own travels brought them wins over Chelsea, Everton and, most satisfyingly, neighbours Newcastle. Now comes the even trickier part. Sunderland are a surprise package no more.The squad must balance domestic commitments with Thursday nights in Europe. We've seen how that schedule can cause growing clubs to crumble. Fans will rightly love every trip, but the club must keep its feet on the ground.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The CoachSunderland's appointment of Regis Le Bris in June 2024 appeared strange, given that he'd just been relegated from Ligue 1 with Lorient. It was a masterstroke: the ex-defender trusted youth to take the Black Cats back to the promised land, then to even greater heights.Key PlayerEnzo Le Fee's arrival in January 2025 caught the attention six months after joining Roma for around �20m, he was moving on loan to the Championship. The midfielder quickly helped Sunderland to win promotion, then signed permanently and impressed again in the top tier.Last Season's ResultsPREMIER LEAGUE: 7th What to read next Coventry City fought valiantly to make it back to the Premier League, but will surviving the drop prove to be an even greater task? - Coventry City 2026-27 season preview Leeds United survived the drop last season, and now work is being done to cement the Whites as a Premier League outfit: Leeds 2026-27 season preview Hull City's return to the Premier League was borderline miraculous, but a far more absurd feat will be the requirement to stay up - Hull City 2026-27 season preview FA CUP: Fifth RoundLEAGUE CUP: Second RoundTop ScorerBrian Brobbey bagged seven goals in all competitions last season for Sunderland.All seven came in the Premier League, and he added an assist to that haul in 31 appearances.Lessons From Last YearThe kids are all right. Sunderland had the youngest average starting XI in their promotion campaign, then the second youngest (after Chelsea) in the Premier League.That couldn't stop them dazzling, and Le Bris deserves huge credit for giving youngsters opportunities to play. Robin Roefs, Chemsdine Talbi, Chris Rigg, Habib Diarra and Eliezer Mayenda all found regular game time while under the age of 23. They rarely looked out of place.Most Likely To...Come out on top in the Tyne-Wear derby. For all of last term's heroics, beating Newcastle home and away was the sweetest achievement of all. Brobbey's late St James' Park winner to complete the double in March is a moment that travelling supporters will never forget nor let their rivals forget.Least Likely To...Pay attention to the doubters. Few neutrals expected Sunderland to survive, let alone finish in the top seven. They became only the fifth newly promoted club to qualify for Europe through league position.View From The StandsWords by: MICHAEL POTTS @MichaelPotts_Last season was a fairy tale. We were meant to go down without a trace, not end up in Europe for the first time in 53 years. There's a buzz around the place the city is on a high and you can feel it.This season will be different because last season was almost a free hit now we've set the bar ridiculously high.The big talking point is if we're prepared for the Thursday-Sunday routine. A reminder: we weren't prepared for the Premier League 12 months ago.Our key player will be Enzo Le Fee. With goals, assists and graft, too, he's probably the most gifted footballer I've ever seen play in red and white. I'm enjoying him while I can.Look out for 21-year-old midfielder Noah Sadiki, who joined us last year. The reason we're going back to the Moon is to find some ground he hasn't covered yet.The opposition player who grinds my gears is Joelinton. He's the softest hard man you'll ever see on a football pitch.Fans think our owner is the best thing to happen to our club in decades.The one change I'd make at our club is to expand the Stadium of Light. We sell it out every week people can't get season tickets so it's time to go above 50,000.I won't be happy unless we reach the Europa League knockouts. I'd accept a weaker league campaign to make the most of our shot.We'll finish 12th, after a run to the Europa League final. Dare to dream, eh?FixturesAUGUST22 Ipswich (A)29 Fulham (H)SEPTEMBER5 Brentford (A)12 Arsenal (H)19 Man City (A)OCTOBER10 Brighton (H)17 Bournemouth (A)24 Leeds (H)31 Coventry (A)NOVEMBER7 Chelsea (H)21 Aston Villa (A)28 Tottenham (H)DECEMBER2 Liverpool (A)5 Newcastle (A)12 Nott'm Forest (H)19 Crystal Palace (H)26 Everton (A)30 Man United (A)JANUARY2 Hull City (H)6 Liverpool (H)16 Chelsea (A)23 Coventry (H)30 Tottenham (A)FEBRUARY6 Aston Villa (H)10 Hull City (A)20 Everton (H)27 Crystal Palace (A)MARCH3 Man United (H)13 Brentford (H)20 Arsenal (A)APRIL10 Ipswich (H)17 Fulham (A)24 Nott'm Forest (A)MAY1 Newcastle (H)8 Brighton (A)15 Bournemouth (H)23 Leeds (A)30 Man City (H)Title OddsSunderland to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1FFT VerdictFourFourTwo verdict: Sunderland to finish 17th.A leap from 12th to 7th in the final two games was a reward for bold transfers, even if xG tables (sorry) had them 18th. Pfft! Enjoy Europe and trust that the squad has the strength if not depth to survive.This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.TOPICSPremier LeagueEd McCambridgeSocial Links NavigationStaff WriterEd is a staff writer at FourFourTwo, working across the magazine and website. A German speaker, hes been working as a football reporter in Berlin since 2015, predominantly covering the Bundesliga and Germany's national team. Favourite FFT features include an exclusive interview with Jude Bellingham following the youngsters move to Borussia Dortmund in 2020, a history of the Berlin Derby since the fall of the Wall and a celebration of Kevin Keegans playing career.
