The Roberto De Zerbi era at Tottenham Hotspur officially gets underway on Sunday afternoon, when the Lilywhites head to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland in gameweek 32 of the 2025-26 Premier League season.
The erstwhile Brighton & Hove Albion boss takes over a Lilywhites side who are still on the hunt for a first top-flight win of 2026, going without victory in their last 13 games to plummet into the thick of the relegation battle.
Igor Tudor's final game in charge could hardly have gone worse, as the Croatian oversaw a 3-0 loss to demotion foes Nottingham Forest, which left the Europa League winners just one point above the Premier League drop zone.
Meanwhile, Sunderland bounced into the international break buoyed by a 2-1 Tyne-Wear derby triumph over rivals Newcastle United at St James' Park, but Regis Le Bris's men have been beaten in each of their last three Premier League home fixtures.
Ahead of Sunday's top-flight showdown, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between Tottenham and Sunderland.
Head-to-head record
Previous meetings: 120
Tottenham Hotspur wins: 50
Draws: 32
Sunderland wins: 38
A head-to-head that dates back to the latest stages of the 19th century - an 1899 FA Cup encounter won by Tottenham Hotspur - the Lilywhites and Sunderland have now butted heads on 120 occasions across all competitions.
Spurs' aforementioned win in the sides' inaugural match marked the first of 50 victories for the North London club in this fixture, while Sunderland have a respectable 38 successes to their name against their more revered rivals.
Another 32 encounters between Spurs and Sunderland have ended level, including the two most recent Premier League showdowns - a 1-1 in January 2026 and a 0-0 in January 2017.
A few months prior to the latter result, Harry Kane struck the only goal at White Hart Lane in a 1-0 win for Tottenham, who have avoided defeat in each of their last 15 top-flight games with the Black Cats, winning 10 of them.
Sunderland have to travel back to April 2010 for their most recent competitive victory over the current Europa League winners, earning a 3-1 victory on home soil thanks to a brace from ex-Spurs man Darren Bent; a young Jordan Henderson also started for the Black Cats that day.
The Wearside outfit did earn a friendly triumph over Spurs in the summer of 2013, but they have not conquered the London club away from home since August 2008, prevailing 2-1 at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham's recent dominance in this battle is in contrast to the earliest days of this showdown, as Spurs won just two of their first 12 contests against Sunderland, who also boast the biggest margin of victory in this fixture.
The Black Cats pummelled the Lilywhites 6-0 in a 1914 Division One game, before repeating the trick in the same league 20 years later.
Last 20 meetings
Jan 04, 2026: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Sunderland (Premier League)
Jan 31, 2017: Sunderland 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Sep 18, 2016: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
Jan 16, 2016: Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Sunderland (Premier League)
Sep 13, 2015: Sunderland 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Jan 17, 2015: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Sunderland (Premier League)
Sep 13, 2014: Sunderland 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Apr 07, 2014: Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 Sunderland (Premier League)
Dec 07, 2013: Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
May 19, 2013: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
Dec 29, 2012: Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Apr 07, 2012: Sunderland 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Dec 18, 2011: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
Feb 12, 2011: Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Nov 09, 2010: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Sunderland (Premier League)
Apr 03, 2010: Sunderland 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Nov 07, 2009: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
Mar 07, 2009: Sunderland 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Aug 23, 2008: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Sunderland (Premier League)
Jan 19, 2008: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
Last 10 Premier League meetings
Jan 04, 2026: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Sunderland (Premier League)
Jan 31, 2017: Sunderland 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Sep 18, 2016: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
Jan 16, 2016: Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Sunderland (Premier League)
Sep 13, 2015: Sunderland 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Jan 17, 2015: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Sunderland (Premier League)
Sep 13, 2014: Sunderland 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Apr 07, 2014: Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 Sunderland (Premier League)
Dec 07, 2013: Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
May 19, 2013: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Sunderland (Premier League)