Exclusive:Nicklas Bendtner details Sunderland culture under Martin O’Neill and reflects on Newcastle United goal
Former Sunderland striker Nicklas Bendtner has opened up on his Wearside memories after returning to the Stadium of Light
Nicklas Bendtner has reflected on the “amazing” Sunderland dressing room he was part of under Martin O’Neill - and the “electric” atmosphere of scoring in a Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle United.
The former Arsenal, Juventus and Denmark striker spent the 2011-12 season on loan at Sunderland, finishing as the club’s top Premier League goalscorer during an eventful campaign on Wearside. Bendtner was back at the Stadium of Light for the Ronaldinho and Friends match, where he was reunited with several familiar faces from his Sunderland days. His Sunderland spell began under Steve Bruce, but the season changed significantly after O’Neill’s appointment in December 2011. The Black Cats were struggling near the bottom of the Premier League table when O’Neill arrived, but quickly climbed clear after a dramatic upturn in form.
Bendtner believes the quality of the dressing room played a major part in that revival, with the former striker reflecting warmly on the group he was part of. Asked what he made of the culture at Sunderland during his time at the club, Bendtner told The Echo: “It was an amazing group. We had a fantastic time there.
The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join our SAFC WhatsApp channel.
“And once Martin O’Neill came in, we were winning nine games, I think, in a row and looked like a really strong team with some good lads and some good players who had been in bigger clubs before, but not succeeded to reaching the levels they wanted, but came to Sunderland and it all sort of came together. And we did a really good season there.”
“It was a good time,” Bendtner said. “It’s one of those classic ones. You get a new manager, and the team starts performing well. It’s not something that’s completely new. You get a new motivation, you get new blood in. And that’s what happened with us as well. We were a strong group of lads who cared for each other, and that came out on the pitch. And I think with that new blood of Martin O’Neill coming in, it sort of just changed the dynamics a little bit.”
Bendtner also remains remembered by Sunderland supporters for his goal against Newcastle United at St James’ Park in March 2012. The Dane converted from the penalty spot to put Sunderland ahead in the derby, although Shola Ameobi later equalised deep into stoppage time after Simon Mignolet had saved Demba Ba’s penalty.
Asked what he remembered about the goal, the penalty and the derby atmosphere, Bendtner admitted that players can experience those occasions differently once the game is underway. “You know, it’s funny for me as a player, once I stepped on the pitch, I didn’t really recognise or hear the atmosphere in long periods of the game,” he said.
“It sort of just comes in like little bites, scoring a goal, a teammate scoring a goal, conceding a goal, getting a red or yellow card. That’s sort of the moments where you like are in it. But once the ball is rolling, your head is like completely where the ball is and where your teammates are. But the atmosphere was electric. And I had a few friends in the stand once I scored that penalty, and they said also it was just a magical feeling. Massive games for the players, massive games for the fans, and it’s just a lot of fun.”
Your next Sunderland AFC read: Sunderland discover 2026/27 Premier League fixtures - see the key dates and list in full