Credit: Imago

Alex Charlton

Tue 5 August 2025 7:45, UK

Regis Le Bris arrived at Sunderland with little expectation last summer after a turbulent season on Wearside.

The 2023/24 campaign was one of calamity as the Black Cats replaced Tony Mowbray with Michael Beale – the less said the better.

However, in Le Bris, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman completed something of a masterstroke, with promotion the unlikeliest of achievements.

Now, the Frenchman has signed a three-year deal to remain on Wearside, although it could have been very different.

Le Bris had Premier League approach

This summer, the Black Cats have been making serious inroads in the transfer market, with Habib Diarra a record signing at the Stadium of Light.

Furthermore, they have attracted a calibre of player nobody would have expected after Granit Xhaka arrived at Sunderland.

Now, arguably their biggest coup of the window is Le Bris signing a new deal to remain at the North-East club.

The news broke on Monday as the 49-year-old was pictured signing the contract with Speakman and Florent Ghisolfi gleaming either side of him.

• Le Bris had two seasons with FC Lorient before joining Sunderland
• He was relegated in his final season with the Ligue 1 club
• Secured promotion at the first attempt with Sunderland

However, it has been revealed that Le Bris was solicited by a solid Premier League club at the start of the summer, according to L’Equipe (4 August).

While supporters will be itching to know which club that was, the French publication does not name them.

They report that the former Lorient boss intended to extend his contract in the North East from the start.

Sunderland put long-term faith in Le Bris

The Black Cats’ boss had two years remaining on his contract before signing a new one to keep him at the Stadium of Light until 2028.

However, the Sunderland hierarchy clearly knew they had a talent on their hands and wanted to tie him down for good.

While there is belief ahead of the Premier League season, Le Bris has a monumental job on his hands to achieve survival.

Indeed, if he were to do that, then it would trump his achievement of reaching the promised land in the first place.

Whatever happens, the Wearsiders have an intelligent, meticulous, and measured head coach who has instilled his tactical nous in his players.

Although many expect Sunderland to fail, Le Bris has set up his side perfectly to compete at the top table.

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