Gus Poyet’s first starting XI at Sunderland: Where are they now?

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Just three of Gustavo Poyet’s first starting XI at Sunderland are still playing for the Black Cats.

Valentin Roberge battles with Michu

Sunderland have now had 9 managers since 2009, if one includes interim bosses, and 7 if you don’t, so one could be forgiven for forgetting a couple. Gus Poyet was in fact the longest serving Sunderland boss since Steve Bruce, taking charge of the team for a grand total of 75 games.

Poyet’s reign in charge of the Black Cats largely followed the script. The Uruguayan pulled off a great escape to keep the club in the Premier League, before subsequently struggling in the following season before his eventual dismissal, only to be replaced by someone who would pull off another great escape before being sacked the following year.

The former Brighton boss’ time at Sunderland is reflected on similarly to a number of the clubs other managers, although Poyet did have a higher win percentage than Steve Bruce, Paolo Di Canio, Dick Advocaat, Sam Allardyce and naturally (so far) David Moyes. His first game was one to forget, a 4-0 loss to Swansea, but 3 years on, we take a look at where that starting XI are now:

Keiren Westwood

Irish international shot stopper Keiren Westwood spent 3 years at the Stadium of Light, largely as a number 2, firstly to Simon Mignolet and later to Vito Mannone. Released by Sunderland in 2014, Westwood joined Sheffield Wednesday, where he has had two excellent seasons, and he is widely regarded as one of the best ‘keepers in the Championship.

Ondrej Celustka

A central defender with 1 goal from 1 cap for the Czech Republic, coming back in 2013, Ondrej Celustka didn’t set the world alight on Wearside during his season on-loan at the club. The former Slavia Prague man joined Sunderland on-loan from Trabzonspor, and now plays for fellow Turkish Super Lig side Antalyaspor.

Valentin Roberge

Under contract at Sunderland for 3 years, Valentin Roberge made just 10 league appearances in that time. The Frenchman joined Sunderland from Portuguese outfit Maritimo, but struggled to adapt to the Premier League. He both joined and left the club on a free transfer, and the 29-year-old now plays in Cyprus for Apollon Limassol.

John O’Shea

John O’Shea is still at Sunderland

One of three men from Poyet’s debut XI still at the Stadium of Light is John O’Shea. The former Manchester United man who can boast 5 Premier League titles and a Champions League among his long list of accomplishments is now in his sixth season at Sunderland.

Phil Bardsley

Another former Manchester United man, although Phil Bardsley had far less impact at Old Trafford. The 31-year-old full-back spent 6 years at Sunderland, making exactly 200 appearances, before linking up with Mark Hughes at his current club Stoke City.

Seb Larsson

An ex-Arsenal trainee, Seb Larsson joined Sunderland from Birmingham City in 2011, and has had a mixed half decade with the Black Cats. The 31-year-old has played 180 games in the North East and won 87 caps for the Swedish national team.

Craig Gardner

Craig Gardner now plays for West Bromwich Albion

Also signed from Birmingham City in 2011, Craig Gardner set Sunderland back £6 million, and played exactly 100 games in 3 years at the club. The 29-year-old former England under-21 international now plays his football at the Hawthorns for West Brom.

Lee Cattermole

A combative midfield player with a questionable disciplinary record, Lee Cattermole is now in his eighth season as a Sunderland player. A well-rounded midfielder when on song, Cattermole has played a total of 263 Premier League games, picking up 88 yellow cards and 7 reds, the joint second most in the competition’s history.

Adam Johnson

The answer to where Adam Johnson is now is HM Prison Moorland in South Yorkshire. The once very promising Middlesbrough winger who went on to play for Manchester City and England was arrested and charged for sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl in March 2015 and sentenced six years in prison 12 months later.

Emanuele Giaccherini

Emanuele Giaccherini scores for Italy against Belgium at Euro 2016

A quite clearly gifted footballer, something just didn’t quite click for Emanuele Giaccherini. In fact, the midfielder has never quite replicated his form for Cesena or the Italian national team with the 6 other teams he has played for. He arrived at Sunderland from Juventus and made just 43 appearances before departing to Napoli for a nominal fee in 2016.

Steven Fletcher

Steven Fletcher’s combined transfer fees add up to more than £22 million, and Sunderland paid the bulk of that, forking out £12 million to bring him to the Stadium of Light from Wolves. A decent first season with the Black Cats was plagued by injuries and poor form over the next three.

Fletcher eventually grew out-of-favour at the club, and following a loan move to Marseille last season, he was released by Sunderland. The 29-year-old joined Sheffield Wednesday in the summer, where he has since scored 4 goals in 16 appearances.