It's been a wonderful season for Sunderland. They've been one of the best sides to watch in the Premier League, taking the top flight by storm to end the curse of promoted sides in recent years.
The Black Cats, although unlucky for some, have provided Regis Le Bris with incredible fortune. The Frenchman is now well on his way to writing his name in the club's history books and has his sights set on avoiding second-season syndrome.
As for the players, the likes of Brian Brobbey have done enough to earn interest from Bayern Munich, but why leave now? Just ask Jack Clarke - the grass isn't always greener.
Clarke was on his way to Sunderland stardom
Clarke left the Sunderland party before the DJ even had the chance to play his requested, Premier League-themed tune and has likely regretted it ever since.
Jack Clarke
The former Tottenham Hotspur winger was excellent at the Stadium of Light and would have undoubtedly played a key role in Le Bris' promotion just months after he decided to leave for Ipswich Town.
In the season prior, Clarke was certainly Sunderland's best player - scoring 15 goals in all competitions. It's no wonder Ipswich came calling after earning promotion of their own to the top flight.
Jack Clarke at Sunderland
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Whilst Sunderland took the next 12 months to secure their Premier League place and prepare for survival, plus potentially more, it was Clarke who looked full of regret. Ipswich came crashing down and he's now back where he started, hoping to claw his way to the top tier once again this season.
More than half of the 25-year-old's goals for the club came in his final full season in Wearside - highlighting the level that Sunderland were left to replace.
It's arguably only now that they're in the Premier League that the Black Cats have that same quality to call on in the form of an impressive academy graduate.
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Sunderland have been rocked by the rumours that Bayern Munich are interested in a summer move for Brian Brobbey.
Sunderland's new Clarke is emerging
For all the money they've spent, there will be no better feeling for Sunderland than watching Chris Rigg rise to stardom under Le Bris.
The academy graduate, still just 18 years old, is already making his mark at the Stadium of Light and has every chance of picking up where Clarke left off.
Le Bris is certainly a fan of the attacking midfielder, who has slowly shown signs that he can become a top-quality winger, having notably given Lewis Hall plenty of trouble in the Tyne-Wear derby last month.
Chris Rigg vs Newcastle
Minutes
Take-ons
Touches in opposition box
Ground duels won
Chances created
Just ask Lamine Yamal and he'll mention how tough it is to get past Hall at St James' Park. Rigg made it look routine and has since been handed the same role in victory over Tottenham.
The goals and assists are yet to come at the same rate they arrived for Clarke, but Rigg has that same tenacity. In his final season at Sunderland, the former won around eight duels per game and created just over two chances. Against Newcastle, the latter managed five and three, respectively.
He's got the same energy and while that innate dribbling ability might not be there, he's a similarly diminutive and tricky customer down the flanks.
chris-rigg-sunderland
Unlike Clarke, there's every chance that Rigg is also here to stay. This is a player who came flying through the ranks of his boyhood club and has since stepped into Premier League football on a consistent basis.
Whilst their former winger attempts to climb back into the top flight, Sunderland are set to reap the rewards from one of their own in Le Bris' side.
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