Sunderland's strongest starting XI based on minutes played during a historic 2025/26 season
Sunderland enjoyed an overwhelmingly successful 2025/26 season and qualified for the Europa League for the first time in their history.
Sunderland’s 2025/26 season will go down as one of the most memorable in the club’s long and proud history after Regis Le Bris and his players defied all of the odds on their long-awaited return to the Premier League.
After securing promotion into the top flight of English football with a Championship play-off final win against Sheffield United, the Black Cats were tipped to battle against relegation and were rated amongst the favourites to return to the second tier. However, an inspired summer transfer window that saw the likes of Robin Roefs, Granit Xhaka and Brian Brobbey all move to the Stadium of Light, laid the foundations for a truly memorable campaign.
The tone was set on the opening day of the season when three of Sunderland promotion heroes all made an impact as Dan Ballard, Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda all found the net in a comfortable win over West Ham United. There was a slight negative when Le Bris’ men were beaten at Burnley just a week later - but that proved to be a rare low throughout an outstanding season.
The memorable moments were racked up on an almost weekly basis with impressive wins against Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, a historic league double over Newcastle United and hard-earned draws against the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and eventual champions Arsenal. The result was a seventh place finish and a spot in the Europa League. But who were Sunderland’s key players and who would make their ‘strongest’ starting eleven if it was based on minutes played throughout the Premier League season?
Sunderland’s starting XI based on minutes played during the 2025/26 season
GK: Robin Roefs - 3,150 minutes RB: Trai Hume - 3,040 minutes LB: Nordi Mukiele - 2,802 minutes CB: Dan Ballard - 2,149 minutes CB: Omar Alderete - 2,936 minutes CM: Granit Xhaka - 2,903 minutes CM: Noah Sadiki -2,896 minutes CM: Habib Diarra - 1,408 minutes RW: Chemsdine Talbi -1,565 minutes LW: Enzo Le Fee - 2,936 minutes ST: Brian Brobbey - 1,934 minutes
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