Amazingly, despite not being instantly used to the ins and outs of English football, Regis Le Bris would heroically secure promotion to the Premier League for Sunderland during his debut campaign in the Stadium of Light dug-out.
This wild achievement alone will ensure the Frenchman is in the Black Cats' history books down the line. Still, all the joy and ecstasy of promotion will be unfortunately short-lived if the Wearside underdogs then struggle to acclimatise to the huge step-up in quality.
Regis-Le-Bris
This will likely be the case too, considering the last six teams promoted up to the big time have all immediately fallen back down to the comforts of the EFL, having found the Premier League to be a sobering beast.
Yet, with Enzo Le Fee already signing on permanently, the Black Cats will hope they can buck this trend as Le Bris and Co. begin to eye up even more notable signings to aid their difficult survival mission.
This is what Sunderland's dream XI could potentially look like ahead of their Premier League adventure nervously getting underway, with a whole host of fresh signings entering through the door, away from just the boost of Le Fee...
1 GK - Anthony Patterson
Anthony-Patterson-Sunderland
Anthony Patterson had been linked with Liverpool in the past, but his first top-flight chance will now come about with boyhood employers Sunderland.
The 25-year-old has been a mainstay in between the sticks for many a season now, so he is deserving of his opportunity in the Premier League, with Patterson now up to 51 clean sheets for the Black Cats from a total of 188 contests.
2 RB - Trai Hume
Hume-Sunderland-Championship
Whilst Sunderland will hope no more interest comes their way for their number one shot-stopper this summer, they will know already it will be a hard battle to keep Trai Hume around, considering the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers have already shown interest in the attack-minded right-back.
Still, Sunderland will have to remain firm when it comes to Hume, considering he could well take the Premier League by storm after collecting nine goal contributions across Sunderland's promotion journey, on top of also valiantly picking up 17 clean sheets.
3 CB - Joe Gomez
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez
The first new signing through the door could well be Liverpool titan Joe Gomez, with a report from the Empire of the Kop revealing that Gomez could be allowed to leave Anfield this summer, amid interest from the Black Cats, among other suitors.
Whilst Luke O'Nien was a brave battler all season long for Sunderland, he might not be cut out for the step-up, having been an EFL regular across the course of his playing days.
On the contrary, whilst he does have recurring injury problems, the 28-year-old transfer target can boast 149 appearances at the level, with only 109 goals conceded.
4 CB - Daniel Ballard
Daniel-Ballard
Whilst Daniel Ballard could well be joined by a fresh centre-back partner, the ex-Arsenal defender will be hopeful his spot in the side is set in stone for the Premier League.
After all, without Ballard, Sunderland might have fallen at the semi-final stages in the playoffs, with this last-gasp header sealing their dramatic spot at Wembley.
Moreover, if he can wrestle free of his own injury issues, he should be cut out for the physical demands of the top-flight, with the playoff final itself seeing Ballard win an imposing ten aerial duels.
5 LB - Kyle Walker-Peters
Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters applauds their fans after the match
The second new addition in the back-line could well come in the form of Southampton star Kyle Walker-Peters joining, with the Saints man an in-demand body as his contract at St. Mary's begins to wind down.
If he were to join, Walker-Peters might end up usurping Dennis Cirkin as Sunderland's starting left-back, having collected 12 assists in the Premier League to date from either the right-back or left-back spot.
6 CM - Dan Neil
dan-neil-sunderland
Much like Hume, Le Bris' men will be hoping that Dan Neil stays put, regardless of outside noise linking him with a spectacular £15m switch to AS Roma.
Neil is deserving of such attention, with the in-demand Black Cats captain a perfect mix of skill and grit, as seen in his two goals and three assists in league action last season, alongside his average duels won count being a high 4.8 from 47 second-tier clashes.
7 CM - Jordan Henderson
Jordan-Henderson-Sunderland -1
Much like Gomez, the added experience of Jordan Henderson in the midfield ranks could help the Black Cats adjust to the step-up.
After all, the former Sunderland prodigy has a mammoth 431 top-flight appearances next to his name, with the top-flight veteran no doubt eager to add more to his collection if his hometown club swoop in for him imminently.
8 RM - Amad Diallo
Sunderland-Amad-Championship
The boldest of Sunderland's new pick-ups would certainly come in the form of Amad Diallo amazingly returning to the Stadium of Light.
The "sensational" attacker - as he's been previously lauded by football journalist Daniel Hussey - has been tentatively linked with an ambitious return to the Black Cats, after a magical loan spell back during the 2022/23 season saw him tally up 14 goals and four assists.
Amad's G/A numbers for Sunderland + after Sunderland
Season
24/25
23/24
22/23
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Amad is now valued at around the £40m mark off the back of finally proving himself in the top-flight with Manchester United - as can be seen looking at the table above - meaning this summer buy would be an almighty statement purchase.
9 CAM - Chris Rigg
Sunderland's Chris Rigg
Whilst Sunderland found themselves ultimately powerless regarding Tommy Watson's exit and Jobe Bellingham's likely departure, the Wearside underdogs will feel at least a sliver of positivity if Chris Rigg remains in the building for their top-flight ride.
It will be intriguing to see how the 17-year-old hotshot takes to the daunting division, but much like he managed to soar up to the senior ranks at his hometown side with ease by bagging four league strikes last season, this could be another hurdle he fearlessly manages to overcome.
10 LM - Enzo Le Fee
Enzo-Le-Fee-Sunderland
Alongside Rigg and the potential new face of Amad, Enzo Le Fee will likely take up the left wing spot for the Black Cats next season.
Le Bris does have Romaine Mundle up his sleeve down the left flank, but Le Fee might well just get the nod over the ex-Standard Liege attacker based on his wealth of top-flight experience in France, having made 132 Ligue 1 appearances primarily on the books of his manager's former employers Lorient.
He also showed off his class for the newly promoted side by helping himself to one goal and three assists from 18 clashes, meaning he should take to the Premier League swimmingly.