Sunderland's path from League One abyss to the Premier League

Sunderland will return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017 after defeating Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final and it has been quite the ride for fans of the Black Cats.

Since their decade-long stay in the Premier League came to an end eight years ago, Sunderland have been on a rollercoaster journey featuring ups and downs, a slew of managers and even a Netflix documentary.

We chronicle the rise and fall of one of England's oldest football clubs.

Ross revitalises Black Cats in third tier

Rewind to the end of the 2017/18 season and it was a difficult time to be a Sunderland fan.

Having finished 20th in the Premier League the season before, the Black Cats suffered back-to-back relegations after placing bottom of the Championship below the likes of Burton, Barnsley and Bolton.

It meant the Wearside club would go on to play in the third tier of English football for the first time since 1987/88 and that triggered a summer clearout with the likes of John O'Shea, Paddy McNair and Wahbi Khazri moving on to pastures new.

Tasked with getting the club back into the Championship at the first attempt, the relatively unknown Jack Ross, formerly of St Mirren, took the reins at the Stadium of Light going into the 2018/19 season.

Ross made an immediate impression, guiding Sunderland to four wins and a draw from their opening five matches and even the loss of prolific forward Josh Maja, who moved to Bordeaux in January, did not stop them from making the top six.

Finally fans of the Black Cats had something to cheer about, although they would go on to lose an agonising League One play-off final against Charlton, courtesy of Patrick Bauer's 94th-minute winner at Wembley.

Parkinson and Neil oversee testing times in League One

A title charge was expected the following season but a stuttering start, albeit one which left the club in the play-off positions, meant Ross was shown the door in the October of the 2019/20 season.

Experienced EFL manager Phil Parkinson took his place but it was an infamously unusual season with the standings determined by points-per-game figures, meaning Sunderland finished eighth, missing out on the play-offs.

Parkinson's stint was also relatively short with Lee Johnson replacing him midway through the 2020/21 campaign, which was a memorable one for Sunderland fans.

The Black Cats went on to win the EFL Trophy and achieve their best finish in League One since their relegation, placing fourth, but once again they fell at the play-off hurdle, losing to Lincoln 3-2 over two legs in the semi-finals.

Ace striker Charlie Wyke was a revelation in the 2020/21 season, netting 31 goals in all competitions, and there were undoubtedly concerns among Sunderland fans when he departed for Wigan on a free the following summer.

But Sunderland had a capable deputy already in their ranks as Scotsman Ross Stewart stepped up to the plate, delivering 24 league goals to secure yet another play-off berth for the club and this time, they got over the line.

It was Alex Neil who oversaw Sunderland's play-off success that campaign as the annual mid-season managerial dismissal meant the end for Johnson in January.

And after winning a nail-biting semi-final tie with Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland sank Wycombe 2-0 in the play-off final to seal a return to the Championship.

Championship return is full of surprises

Manager Neil swapped Sunderland for Stoke in August 2022 and the Black Cats put their faith in veteran boss Tony Mowbray in the second tier.

It turned out to be the right move as Sunderland secured a spot in the play-offs at the first time of asking, losing to Luton in the semi-finals.

The subsequent campaign was a tough one not even Mowbray could last as he was dismissed with the club in ninth spot in December 2023 before Mike Dodds eventually took the reins in the following February.

But the club could only finish 16th, Dodds did not last and they went into the 2024/25 season with a new look about them once again.

Le Bris puts Black Cats back in the top-flight

Given Sunderland's recent record with managers, former Lorient boss Regis Le Bris surely arrived on Wearside a bit uneasy about his new role last summer.

If he did, it certainly did not translate to the pitch as Sunderland began the 2024/25 season on fire, winning their opening four matches and nine of their first 12 fixtures to sit top of the Championship table.

Le Bris's side played with width, pace and dynamism and Sunderland quickly showed they had goals throughout the team in Eliezer Mayenda, Wilson Isidor and Romaine Mundle among others.

Jobe Bellingham, Chris Rigg and Patrick Roberts, meanwhile, impressed from various midfield roles and Luke O'Nien was a reliable mainstay in defence.

Sunderland could not maintain the early pace they showed in the Championship, eventually dropping down to fourth at the end of November and remaining there until the end of the campaign.

But as recent history suggests, nothing is straightforward with Sunderland and, after securing their place in the play-offs, they took their foot off the pedal and lost their final five league games of the season, scoring just once in the process.

That tempered enthusiasm going into the play-offs but Sunderland defied their doubters with a two-legged win over Frank Lampard's Coventry, getting over the line in extra-time at the Stadium of Light thanks to Daniel Ballard's 123rd-minute header.

A return to the Premier League now beckons following a phenomenal comeback success over Sheffield United, sealed with a dramatic late goal from Horden-born striker Tom Watson.