Luke O’Nien sends Dennis Cirkin message ahead of expected Sunderland exit & pays Dan Neil and Lynden Gooch tribute
Luke O’Nien paid tribute to key figures from Sunderland’s journey after the historic win against Chelsea.
Luke O’Nien says Sunderland would not be celebrating European qualification without the contributions of Dan Neil, Lynden Gooch and Dennis Cirkin.
The Black Cats secured Europa League football for the first time since 1973-74 after a historic final-day win over Chelsea at the Stadium of Light. It completed a remarkable rise from League One to Europe in just four years, with O’Nien one of the few players to have lived the full journey. Neil and Gooch were both in attendance as Sunderland sealed one of the greatest days in the club’s modern history, while Cirkin could potentially move on this summer after playing a major role in the club’s climb from League One to the Premier League.
O’Nien was keen to recognise the part all three have played in Sunderland’s story. “Listen, we wouldn't be here without the three boys you just said. We wouldn't be here without them,” he said. “Dan Neil, he's captained the club back to the Premier League. He's taken on unbelievable amounts of pressure. He's a boyhood Sunderland fan.
“He was celebrating getting Europe like he scored the winner, and that's special. He'll always be a Sunderland fan, and his family as well. They've always got a place here. Dennis came in League One. The friendship I have with him and how much he's helped me. I've loved playing with him. It's been one of the most enjoyable times of my career playing alongside him.”
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Neil will leave his boyhood club this season, but his place in the club’s recent history is already secure. The academy graduate captained the Black Cats back to the Premier League.
Gooch, meanwhile, was part of Sunderland’s League One years and the promotion-winning side under Alex Neil. Cirkin also joined during that era and became a key player in the club’s journey back up the divisions. For O’Nien, the bond between Sunderland’s players past and present says plenty about the culture that has been built at the club.
“See how Nordi celebrated a tackle in the 30th minute, Lucha does the same, and the way they all chase the ball down, they tackle, they celebrate. It's just one massive family. It's not possible to achieve what you just achieved without the boys knowing that, and that's the thing I'm most proud of. What we've built over the last number of years, it's the thing I'm most proud of.”
Your next Sunderland AFC read: Spirit shown on and off the pitch inspired Sunderland's European dream - says former Black Cats star