A club that is currently in the Championship, competing for promotion to the Premier League after years of languishing in the depths of the English Football League, Sunderland has an incredibly rich history. Holding six First Division titles, Sunderland were a powerhouse of a football club in the 1890s and early 1900s.
The latest trophy that the Black Cats won was in 2021 when they lifted the Football League Trophy. The last major trophy that the club won was back in 1973 when they lifted the FA Cup following a 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the final. This season, Sunderland are amidst a push for promotion back into the Premier League, looking like a shoo-in for a play-off spot.
Here, we will be taking a deep dive through the archives of Sunderland's history, uncovering the top 10 greatest footballers to have ever played on Wearside.
Greatest Sunderland players in football history
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10 Dave Halliday
Time at the club: 1925-1929
Dave Halliday sunderland
Beginning this list with the most prolific striker to have ever played for the club, Dave Halliday boasted a truly outstanding goalscoring record for Sunderland, hitting his first 100 goals for the club in just 101 games.
Scoring 35 goals in each of the four seasons that he spent at the club, Halliday was one of the best goalscorers of his time, attaining the Golden Boot in his last campaign, scoring 43 times. He is also the third-highest scorer of all time for the Black Cats, despite only playing a handful of the games of his competitors. Halliday is the greatest goalscorer in their history.
9 Kevin Ball
Time at the club: 1990-1999
Kevin Ball sunderland
A man who gained a reputation as one of football's "hardmen," Kevin Ball became a fan favourite at Roker Park through his determination and desire to win. He would set the standard for the team both on the pitch in his work rate and discipline, but also off it in the dressing room. Ball would help Sunderland to two promotions back into top-flight football, playing a crucial part in both the 1995/96 and 1998/99 second-tier title wins.
He also played in an FA Cup final for the Black Cats in 1992, but his side were defeated by Liverpool in a 2-0 loss. Named Sunderland Player of the Year in both the 1990-91 and 1996-97 campaigns, Ball was an integral part of the midfield during his nine years at the club.
8 Raich Carter
Time at the club: 1931-1939
Raich Carter sunderland
A man who was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2013, Raich Carter was an inside forward who was technically gifted and a very intelligent player. His footwork and skill allowed him to evade challenges and advance the ball up the pitch through his dribbling. When given the opportunity to get a shot off, Carter was a clinical finisher, holding a record at the club just short of a goal every two games.
In 1936, Carter captained the Sunderland side that won the Football League and, at the time, became the youngest player to ever captain a Football League-winning team. Though, perhaps, his best moment in a red and white shirt came in the following season, when Sunderland lifted the FA Cup in 1937, scoring the second goal in the final, beating Preston North End 3-1.
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7 Len Shackleton
Time at the club: 1925-1929
len shackleton sunderland
Nicknamed the "Clown Prince of Football" for his antics and engaging personality, Len Shackleton was a true entertainer on the football pitch. Whether it was scoring penalties with his back heel, pretending to comb his hair while dribbling into the opposition penalty area, or playing one-twos with the corner flag to mock the other team, Shackleton would take any measure possible to get under the opponent's skin.
Signing from bitter rivals Newcastle United in 1948, Shackleton was never able to claim silverware on Wearside, despite coming close occasionally. In the 1954-55 season, Sunderland lost the fewest games in the First Division but fell short of the title, finishing four points behind Chelsea. He also came close to an FA Cup final on two occasions with the club, knocked out in the semi-finals of the 1955 campaign by Manchester City, and again in 1956 by Birmingham City.
6 Kevin Phillips
Time at the club: 1997-2003
kevin-phillips-sunderland
The most recent club legend to make this list, Kevin Phillips, became a cult hero at Sunderland due to his prolific nature in front of goal. Breaking the record for the most goals scored in all competitions for the club since the Second World War in his first season, Phillips hit the back of the net on 35 occasions in red and white. In the following campaign, he would score 23 times in 26 league appearances, helping his side to win the First Division.
Then, in his third season at the club in the 1999-2000 season, Phillips would shock the Premier League. The marksman hit 30 goals in the English top flight, earning himself the Premier League Golden Boot, the European Golden Shoe, and a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
5 Charlie Hurley
Time at the club: 1957-1969
Charlie Hurley Sunderland
A man-mountain at the back for Sunderland, Charlie Hurley was one of the best centre-backs around during his time in English football. Commanding from the back with his leadership and defensive presence, Hurley was a defender who enjoyed battles with the opposition forwards, being aerially dominant and strong in a tackle.
Despite playing in an era where centre-backs did not typically play out from the back, Hurley was quite good in possession, distributing through the midfield and carrying the ball forward. Spending 12 years at Sunderland as a vital component of a strong backline, Hurley gained legendary status for his battling performances for the club.
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4 Bobby Kerr
Time at the club: 1966-1978
Bobby Kerr Sunderland 1973 FA Cup
Given the nickname "Little General" due to his diminutive size but aggressive playing style, Bobby Kerr wedged his name into the Sunderland history books with his long service and outstanding performances. An integral part of Sunderland's 1973 FA Cup campaign, Kerr would win two trophies for the club in his 12-year spell.
However, it was impressive enough that he was able to recover at all from his horrid start to life on Wearside, breaking his leg on two separate occasions early on in his time at the club. Kerr was also a vital part of the Black Cats' Second Division-winning midfield in 1976, becoming a fan favourite at the club.
3 Jimmy Montgomery
Time at the club: 1960-1977
Jimmy Montgomery Sunderland
One of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of English football, Jimmy Montgomery, was absolutely adored at Roker Park in red and white colours. His extraordinary reflexes and agility allowed him to reach shots that many other goalkeepers wouldn't, especially from close range. His most fond memory at Sunderland was his outstanding performance in the 1973 FA Cup final, where he pulled off a catalogue of top saves to keep a crucial clean sheet.
The most vital of the lot was his outrageous double save against Trevor Cherry and Peter Lorimer, which has been eulogised as one of the best double saves of all time. Serving 17 years for the club and also a part of the Second Division-winning side of 1976, Montgomery is comfortably one of the most legendary Sunderland players of all time.
2 Charlie Buchan
Time at the club: 1911-1925
Charlie Buchan Sunderland
Coming in at the penultimate place on this list is the prolific centre forward, Charlie Buchan, who is still the leading scorer in league competitions for Sunderland a century later. His playing style was one of elegance and had a gentleman-like approach to the game, relying upon his technical skill and in-match intelligence rather than physical attributes.
More than a proficient passer of the ball, clinical in front of goal, and a real handful in aerial situations, Buchan was a complete forward. He played an integral role in Sunderland's last top-flight title, finishing as the second top goalscorer in that campaign, racking up 27 goals in the league.
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1 Bobby Gurney
Time at the club: 1925-1950
Bobby Gurney 1937
Taking our number one spot as the greatest Sunderland player of all time is the great Bobby Gurney. He is the top goalscorer of all time for the club, with 228 goals in all competitions. Playing as a versatile forward who could occupy any of the positions across the frontline, Gurney was an intelligent player who would find space to receive the ball and was lethal in front of goal. Although he was versatile, his best position was as a striker, where he would receive the most chances to score.
In 1933, Gurney would secure his best return in a season in his career, dispatching 33 times that campaign. He would also go on to score 10 hat-tricks in a Sunderland shirt, scoring four goals in a game twice and also hitting five in a match. Spending 25 years at the club, winning three trophies, and being the highest goalscorer in Sunderland history, Bobby Gurney rightfully earns his spot as the club's finest player ever.
Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 29-03-25.