Sunderland chief Kristjaan Speakman has been instrumental in the club’s rise from League One to the Premier League.
Sunderland’s rise from League One to the Premier League culminated this season with their 2-1 comeback win over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.
The Black Cats suffered embarrassing back-to-back relegations in 2017 and 2018 that sent the club down to the third tier of English Football.
Alex Neil was the driving force behind Sunderland’s promotion from League One in 2022, and this season, summer arrival Regis Le Bris has masterminded an outstanding play-off campaign victory.
After the efforts of several head coaches, swathes of players and backroom staff saw Sunderland return to the Premier League promised land, there is one member of the Black Cats’ boardroom that deserves to be singled out for praise.
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Sunderland chief to complete outstanding move amid Jobe Bellingham links
Kristjaan Speakman was the former Birmingham City academy manager for nine years before arriving as Sunderland Sporting Director in late 2020.
Sunderland were lingering in the mid-table of League One upon Speakman’s arrival, joining the club’s hierarchy days after the sacking of now-Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson.
Less than five years later, the Black Cats have achieved Premier League promotion whilst signing and nurturing some of the country’s finest talent, including Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg.
Bellingham is linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund, and has flown to Germany for transfer talks in the wake of Sunderland’s play-off final win, which has deeply divided the Black Cats fanbase.
Inspired by musings from journalist Michael Graham, EFL Analysis has taken a deep dive into one particular trade-up Speakman has made during his time at Sunderland, concerning Bellingham.
Case in point for the outstanding business Speakman has overseen, his tenure has seen the Black Cats trade up from the likes of Josh Scowen, to Bellingham, who is being touted for a £25 million move.
Scowen spent only one full season at Sunderland, between 2020 and 2021, before returning to Wycombe Wanderers as an undoubted Black Cats flop.
Speakman has raised the bar with signings a far cry from Scowen, by bringing the likes of Bellingham and Enzo Le Fee to Wearside, showcasing perfectly his calibre as a Sporting Director.
The trade-up from Scowen to Bellingham and Le Fee is just one of many examples that highlight how impressive the job Speakman has done at Sunderland in his five-year tenure, and as such, the Black Cats’ hierarchy will be desperate to retain his services.
Photo by Michael Driver | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Michael Driver | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Forget Jobe Bellingham, Sunderland must keep Kristjaan Speakman at all costs
Some of Speakman’s signings at Sunderland have proven nothing short of inspired.
Trai Hume was snubbed for a Player of the Season nominee after his standout Championship campaign at full-back, which has caught the attention of top flight rivals Wolves.
Under Speakman’s stewardship, Hume was scouted and then recruited for a miniscule fee of around £200k, and has gone on to cement himself as one of the best right-backs in English football.
The Sunderland Sporting Director has also been pivotal in important sales, which have benefitted the financial health of the club tremendously, namely the transfers of Ross Stewart, Jack Clarke and now Brighton-bound Tommy Watson.
Last summer, Speakman was also integral in the acquisition of Le Bris, which has proven to be an immense appointment after masterminding the play-off campaign victory.
Speakman’s efforts on Wearside will no doubt have caught the attention of elite European clubs, but given the standard of job he has done at Sunderland, the Black Cats must retain their Sporting Director at all costs ahead of their Premier League return.