Sunderland’s top five managers of all time – Roy Keane and FA Cup winner
Sunderland have had a plethora of talented managers throughout their history.
All ot the focus is on the job Regis Le Bris is doing at Sunderland currently, with the Black Cats sitting sixth in the Premier League after three games.
However, some of the names that sat in the dugout before him have already gone down in Sunderland’s history for various reasons.
With that in mind, Mackem News picks out five of the most influential managers in the history of the Wearside club.
Roy Keane
Roy Keane is a hero on Wearside, and it all stems back to the 2006/07 season in the Championship.
Sunderland had a horror start to the campaign, though Keane was able to turn things around and led the Black Cats to promotion, having spent the last few years on the decline.
- 100 games in charge
- 1.45 points per game
- Championship title
In fact, against all odds, the Irishman actually won the Championship title with Sunderland that season, before going to help stabilise them in the Premier League.
His no-nonsense style of management was a breath of fresh air at the time, and played a huge part in the success that he found on Wearside before departing in 2008.
- Read more: Lorenzo Pellegrini and 37-cap international – Three players Sunderland can sign for free in 2026
Bob Kyle
With a tenure that lasted 24 years between 1905 and 1929, Bob Kyle is easily one of the biggest legends in the history of Sunderland.
He won the First Division title with the Black Cats back in 1912, and led them to an FA Cup final, only to suffer defeat against Aston Villa.
His side that campaign is often seen as the best Sunderland team of all-time, though there are certainly a few that can rival that.
While silverware was limited, Kyle’s philosophy ensured that the Wearsiders were a competitive side in English football, and that would continue after he left as a result of the foundations he had laid.
Tom Watson
Sunderland had just eight years under the stewardship of Tom Watson back in the 1800s, but it brought plenty of success.
Joining in 1888, Watson went on to win three league titles with the Black Cats, two of which came in successive campaigns in 1892 and 1893.
He was the first manager to do so at Sunderland, and is also the most successful manager in their history when it comes to the number of league titles won.
His style of play was something completely different to what was expected in that era of football, with his side often labelled as the “Team of All the Talents”.
A move to Liverpool ensued after his Wearside departure, where he went on to win a further two league titles on Merseyside.
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is a hero at Sunderland, and his regular appearances at the Black Cats’ games are often met with a huge rendition of applause of cheers, showcasing the legacy he created.
Joining in 1995, Reid achieved two seventh-placed finishes in the Premier League, which was the highest they had finished for years.
- Two league titles
- 105-point season
- 45% win ratio
- 353 total games
Two years into his tenure, Sunderland moved to the Stadium of Light, which has been their home ever since.
Reid was influential in the deals to bring Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn to Sunderland, who, once again, are two of the biggest legends in the history of the Wearsiders.
Bob Stokoe
Rumour has it that the word “legend” was formed to describe Bob Stokoe.
Stokoe is easily the most well-thought-of manager in the history of Sunderland, with his success in the FA Cup a large reason behind it.
Seeing off Leeds in the final, Stokoe led his Sunderland side to FA Cup glory in 1973, with the likes of Jimmy Montgomery featuring in his squad.
It was one of the biggest underdog stories at the time, and was a testament to the ability that Stokoe had to captivate his team.
His legacy was immortalised with a statue outside the Stadium of Light, so that fans will never forget the success he delivered on Wearside.
Sign up for the Mackem News WhatsApp channel and turn on notifications to have all the latest, breaking Sunderland AFC news sent straight to your phone.