The Black Cats cult hero played for the Stadium of Light club between 2011 and 2017.
Sunderland cult hero Sebastian Larsson has spoken fondly of the Stadium of Light club, saying he still keeps an eye out for the Black Cats, shared in the pain of their League One playoff final defeat, and believes they will seal a return to the Championship this season (Chronicle Live).
The Swedish midfielder, whose AIK side will take on Celtic in the Europa League on Thursday night, was at Sunderland between 2011 and 2017, joining the Stadium of Light outfit after leaving Birmingham City, and made 203 appearances for the Black Cats, scoring 14 goals and claiming 23 assists according to Transfermarkt.
After being released by Sunderland when their relegation from the Premier League coincided with the expiry of his contract, Larsson signed a one-year contract with Championship club Hull City in August 2017, and the following summer he then linked up with AIK, where he plies his trade today.
“I was just as disappointed as all of the other Sunderland fans watching the play-off final last year,” he told Chronicle Live. “It started so well and ended up with massive disappointment losing with the last kick of the game. I was really hoping to see them bounce back because it is a club where I spent a big part of my career.
“We had our ups and downs but it was a club that I still follow now. I still wish them all the best and I am confident that this year they can get promoted back into the Championship. At least that is where they need to be to rebuild and make a push to be back in the Premier League in the not too distant future.”
Sunderland have begun the 2019-20 campaign brightly, following up two consecutive 1-1 draws to then see off likely promotion rivals Portsmouth 2-1 and then win by the same scoreline away at Rochdale, while in the Carabao Cup they won 3-1 at Accrington Stanley.
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