There was some surprise news from Sunderland on Friday as the Black Cats confirmed sporting director Kristjaan Speakman had departed.
Kristjaan Speakman’s time as Sunderland’s sporting director has come to an end after his departure was confirmed in a statement released on Friday morning.
The former Birmingham City man played a key role in helping Sunderland move on from their stint in League One and play-off disappointment in the Championship to becoming the surprise package in this season’s Premier League. Speakman’s first game in his new role with the Black Cats came in December 2020 with a 1-0 home defeat against a Wigan Athletic side that were sitting at the bottom of the League One table. A Kyle Joseph goal just after the quarter-hour mark gave the Latics a surprise win on Wearside and condemned Lee Johnson to a defeat in his first game as Sunderland’s new head coach.
From that demoralising defeat in the third tier of English football to the narrow midweek loss against reigning Premier League champions Liverpool, it is safe to say Speakman departs with Sunderland in a far better place than he found them. Two promotions and Wembley memories only tell half of the story and a comparison between the first and final starting elevens of his time at the Stadium of Light show just how far Sunderland have progressed.
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Florent Ghisolfi’s role as the Black Cats head of football operations will have a wide-ranging role as the club look to drive on from an extremely encouraging return to the Premier League. The former Roma man led the highly ambitious and successful recruitment drive during the summer transfer window - but Speakman’s departure still offers a chance to reflect on the incredible transformation within the Black Cats ranks for his first game in his role to his last.
Sunderland starting XI vs Wigan Athletic - December 2020
Will Grigg.placeholder image
Will Grigg. | Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images.
Lee Burge - €100k Conor McLaughlin - €400k Bailey Wright - €800k Tom Flanagan - €250k Denver Hume - €250k Josh Scowen - €800k Grant Leadbitter - €1.6m Max Power - €600k Chris Maguire - €350k Will Grigg - €1.2m Aidan McGeady - €725k Total value: €7.075m
Player values according to TransferMarket.
Sunderland starting XI vs Liverpool - February 2026
Habib Diarra celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates Nordi Mukiele, Enzo Le Fee and Daniel Ballard of Sunderland.placeholder image
Habib Diarra celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates Nordi Mukiele, Enzo Le Fee and Daniel Ballard of Sunderland. | Getty Images
Robin Roefs - €18.00m Omar Alderete - €12.00m Dan Ballard - €16.00m Reinildo Mandava - €5.00m Nordi Mukiele - €15.00m Noah Sadiki - €25.00m Enzo Le Fee - €20.00m Trai Hume - €18.00m Habib Diarra - €32.00m Nilson Angulo - €7.00m Brian Brobbey - €20.00m Total value: €188.00m
Player values according to TransferMarket
What have Sunderland said about Kristjaan Speakman’s departure?
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus. (Photo by Alex MARTIN / AFP via Getty Images).placeholder image
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus. (Photo by Alex MARTIN / AFP via Getty Images). | AFP via Getty Images.
In a statement released on Friday, Black Cats owner and chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus said: “Kristjaan has made an important contribution to Sunderland AFC during a period of significant transition and growth, helping to rebuild the club and restore its place in the Premier League. Strong foundations have been established throughout our football operations over the past five years, and that phase of redevelopment is now complete. As we look to the future, our focus is on building from that position of strength with clarity of direction and sustained progress. We are grateful for Kristjaan’s commitment and professionalism and wish him every success for the future.”
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