Sunderland host Tottenham in the Premier League this weekend for the first time since January 2017.
So much has changed for both sides since that 0-0 draw, with the Black Cats sinking all the way down to League One before finally returning to the top-flight, and Spurs hitting the heights of a Champions League final and a Europa League title, before now battling desperately against relegation.
With that in mind, let’s take a look back at the David Moyes side that took to the field that day to see what happened next.
What happened next? The last Sunderland side to host Spurs in the Premier League
GK: Vito Mannone
Left for Reading following Sunderland’s relegation and was productive in the Championship, before an excellent year at Minnesota United in 2019, winning the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award and making the league’s Best XI. Turned out for the likes of Esbjerg, Monaco and Lorient, before retiring in the summer after two years as Lille’s backup goalkeeper.
CB: Lamine Kone
Lamine Kone stayed at Sunderland another year following relegation, before joining Strasbourg in 2018. Remained there for a few years before winding down his career with Lausanne and Le Mans.
CB: Jason Denayer
Joined Galatasaray after relegation, winning a domestic double, before swiftly moving to Lyon and making 139 appearances for the French side. After a couple of years in the UAE and Saudi, Denayer is now a free agent, which is crazy to think of a 30-year-old with 35 caps for Belgium.
CB: John O’Shea
Always dependable for the Black Cats, O’Shea spent one more year with the club following their relegation, before a short stay at Reading in 2018/19. Served as Republic of Ireland interim manager for four games in 2024 and is now an assistant coach.
RWB: Billy Jones
Played 22 games in the Championship the following season, before joining Rotherham. Billy Jones was in and out of the Yorkshire side’s lineup, and finally retired in 2021 after a three-game spell back at Crewe, where his career began.
CM: Jack Rodwell
After so much hype during his Everton and Man City days, Rodwell’s career just never took off. It has been full of surprises, however, playing for Blackburn in 2018/19 and even returning to the Premier League for one game at Sheffield United a year later. Now 35, he’s without a club and surely on the verge of retirement after spells in Australia with Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC.
CM: Didier Ndong
A former record transfer and a poster boy for everything that went wrong for Sunderland during this spell, Ndong would only stick around for another year. He then embarked on a journeyman career with stop-offs at Watford, Dijon, Yeni Malatyaspor, Al-Riyadh and Esteghlal FC. At 31 years old, the 55-time Gabon international has been without a club since January.
CM: Sebastian Larsson
A scorer of incredible goals, Larsson joined Hull following Sunderland’s relegation. He stayed there for a year, before ending his career with a 159-game spell at AIK in his native Sweden - who capped him 133 times - winning the 2018 league title.
LWB: Javier Manquillo
Made the utterly controversial move to Newcastle following Sunderland’s relegation, and actually managed to stay at St. James’ Park until January 2023, despite often being relegated to the bench. Retired in the summer of 2025 at just 30 years old, following a short stay with Celta Vigo.
ST: Jermain Defoe
One of Sunderland’s greatest forwards of the Premier League era, netting 37 goals in all comps and 34 league goals, despite SAFC battling relegation and ultimately going down. He joined Bournemouth after that relegation, and also won a league title as a super sub with Rangers, before returning for Sunderland for seven goalless games in League One during 2021/22. Jermain Defoe then retired, and recently became manager of Woking.
ST: Fabio Borini
A real Sunderland cult hero, who provided incredible moments against Newcastle United, it remains a point of frustration that Borini never hit the next level at the Stadium of Light. The Italian represented some massive clubs after leaving Sunderland in 2017, including AC Milan and Sampdoria. At 35 years old, he’s still playing, back in England with League Two side Salford City.
Used sub: George Honeyman
Stayed with Sunderland a couple more years. Now plays for Blackpool following spells at Hull City and Millwall.
Unused: Mika (GK)
Left Sunderland during the following campaign, joining Portuguese lower league club Leiria. Is now the backup keeper for Primeira Liga side Moreirense, following stop-offs with B SAD, Coimbra and Vitoria Setubal.
Unused: Joleon Lescott (CB)
Made just two senior appearances for Sunderland before retiring in 2017. Now works as a pundit.
Unused: Donald Love (RB/CB)
Has been a journeyman since leaving Sunderland in 2019, playing for Shrewsbury, Salford City, Morecambe and, now, Accrington Stanley.
Unused: Lynden Gooch (RB)
Stayed with SAFC all the way until 2023, making 247 appearances for the club. Spent a couple of seasons at Stoke, and is now a key player for League One side Huddersfield Town.
Unused: Steven Pienaar (W/CM)
Was ineffective at the Stadium of Light and left that summer to end his career at Bidvest Wits in his native South Africa. Currently a youth coach at Emirati side Sharjah.
Unused: Adnan Januzaj (ST/W)
Never reached the heights expected of him, including during his loan spell at Sunderland. He’s since enjoyed a decent time at Real Sociedad and is currently a bit-part player at Sevilla, who have also sent him out on loan to Istanbul Basaksehir and Las Palmas. Clocked up 15 caps for Belgium and scored against England at the 2018 World Cup in his only appearance at the tournament.
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