Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterPeter Reid knows better than most what it takes to lead Sunderland to the upper reaches of English football.The former Black Cats boss led Sunderland to back-to-back seventh-place Premier League finishes in 2000 and 2001 - a feat that was not matched until last season.Like Reid, Regis Le Bris followed up promotion to the top flight with an immediate seventh-place finish, but unlike the case of the former Everton midfielder, this was enough to secure European football, marking Sunderlands first shot at continental competition since their European Cup Winners Cup tilt after their 1973 FA Cup victory.Reid on Sunderlands return to EuropeI was absolutely delighted to get to Europe is some achievement, Reid tells FourFourTwo. Its a great club and the supporters are unbelievable.I went to the Championship play-off final in 2025 we won, amazing, but I was thinking wed sort of scraped through and needed to get recruitment right to have any chance of staying up. You may like Sunderland went from Championship to Europa League football in the space of a year, but just how much can Regis Le Bris' men achieve in their second season? Sunderland 2026-27 season preview Shocking Sunderland stat re-emerges, following Brian Brobbey masterclass Everton have a full season at the new stadium behind them now they dont have any excuses next season Peter Reid wants to see Everton kick on next term A busy summer followed the Black Cats Wembley victory 12 months ago, with more than �200million being spent on new arrivals, as Reids hope that the club got their recruitment right came to fruition.I have to say, the recruitment last summer was fantastic, he continues. Nordi Mukiele was so strong at the back, and Brian Brobbey was so powerful up front absolutely fearless.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.Perhaps the most important player brought in last summer was a familiar face to seasoned Premier League viewers, in the form of a certain ex-Arsenal midfielder.Then there was the class of Granit Xhaka in midfield. Boy, what a signing he was. Just the calmest, most authoritative player you could have found.I went to the game against Newcastle [that Sunderland won 1-0], and there was just this feeling inside the stadium that something special was happening.Despite last seasons success, several pundits are tipping Sunderland to struggle this season, as they get to grips with balancing domestic and European football.You can never tell how a club is going to get on with the balance of Premier League football and Europe, Reid admits. Even though weve got the basis of a very good side that can compete against most clubs on our day, you need a deep squad.But Im up there often and you can smell success in the air. The future is looking bright.TOPICSPeter ReidPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromEd McCambridgeStaff Writer
