For the neutral follower, Dwight Yorke’s time in England will generally be recalled through the lens of a goalscorer for Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Blackburn Rovers, along with his party boy lifestyle.
What is likely to be less relevant to many non-Sunderland fans is his almost three years spent on Wearside. By the time he joined the club, Yorke was in his late thirties and had been living the life in Australia whilst playing a little football for Sydney FC.
It is fair to say that by this stage of his career, Yorke was more about enjoying his life, with football being the alternative option, though many may suggest this was the way he had always been!
When his former teammate Roy Keane was announced as the new manager of Sunderland AFC in August 2006, it is said that one of the first calls the new boss made was to convince Yorke to return to the Premier League.
West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images
When speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane recalls calling the Trinidadian and asking him to come back to England.
It’s a lovely place. It is. If you’re a footballing person, Sunderland’s a great club. Nicest people you’ll ever meet. But, yeah, there’s a family decision for people and players have said to me they’ve turned down Sunderland.
[Dwight] Yorke was at Sydney. But I knew Yorkey loved his football. He liked partying but I knew he loved his football.
He was over in Sydney. He’s a franchise player. He said, ‘I’ve got a penthouse in Sydney harbour.’ Probably had a Lamborghini then. He said, ‘You want me to come back? You want me to move to Sunderland?’
I went, ‘That’s exactly what I want you to do.’ And honestly I knew. He went, ‘Alright.’ I said, ‘Big challenge Yorkey. Come and get Sunderland up.’
And Yorkey was brilliant but he was a footballing person. I give Yorkey that. He loved his football.
As Keane reflects on there, Yorke was one of the signings made by the Irishman early on that made a huge difference to the team. The experience he possessed, along with his bubbly personality, seemed like a perfect fit.
Cork City v Sunderland Photo by Patrick Bolger/Getty Images
Yorke didn’t return as a striker, however, with Keane seeing him as a man to play in the holding midfielder role, using his experience and know-how to help the rest of the team. Whilst not playing every game, Yorke was certainly crucial for many games in the Championship promotion season, along with the following season in the Premier League when we stayed up.
In that Premier League season, Keane saw Yorke as a man for the big games when we would have less possession. Games against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, amongst others, saw him play in the holding midfield role in a 4-5-1 formation.
His performances must have been impressive enough as on this day in 2008, the club offered Yorke a further one-year deal to keep him at the club.
Despite an offer to return to Australia to play for Central Coast Mariners, Yorke decided to have another year in the Premier League.
It has been a tremendous two years for me at Sunderland.
I’ve got to know the players and the staff and the fans have been great to me.
In the end, it was a straightforward decision.
I had one or two things to think about and I knew I needed to make a decision. Once the manager gave me the thumbs up, it was easy to sign.
In addition, Keane seemed equally happy to have retained Yorke’s character around the training ground and there was talk he will be handed a coaching role next summer.
“Yorkie’s experience, on and off the pitch, has been invaluable to us,” said Keane.
“He’s a great character to have in the dressing room and around the training ground and he’ll have a part to play for us next season.”
In the third season, Yorke played many fewer games but played a crucial role in our 2-1 victory over Newcastle at the Stadium of Light in October 2008. Upon his departure from the club, it is said that Keane and Yorke finished on sour terms with Yorke quoting his last message from his former teammate and boss as “Go F**k Yourself”!