Granit Xhaka and Luke O’Nien thanked Sunderland kitman Luke Purcell and other staff members after a historic season
Granit Xhaka and Luke O’Nien have shown their appreciation for Sunderland’s support staff with a classy handwritten note after the club’s historic season.
Sunderland kitman Luke Purcell shared the message on his Instagram story, adding the caption: “The reason you do what you do…” alongside an emotional emoji.
The card appeared to be signed by Xhaka and O’Nien, with both players taking the time to thank Purcell and the wider kit team for their work behind the scenes during a remarkable campaign.
The handwritten message read: “To Luke, The way you’ve improved us as a team in the small window you’ve been here is remarkable. We really appreciate the detail you have and the human you are! You are really important to this team! Thank you from all the lads!”
The gesture will no doubt be appreciated by Sunderland fans, with the club’s togetherness repeatedly highlighted as one of the key themes behind their success this season. Régis Le Bris’ side qualified for the Europa League after a stunning first season back in the Premier League, finishing seventh and securing European football for the first time since 1973-74.
While the players and coaching staff have understandably taken much of the praise, moments like this underline the wider team behind Sunderland’s rise. Kit staff, medical staff, analysts, chefs, media staff and ground-level workers all play a part in building the environment around a successful football club.
Xhaka and O’Nien have both emerged as major leaders within the Sunderland dressing room, albeit in very different ways. Xhaka arrived last summer with vast experience and quickly became one of the driving forces behind the Black Cats’ remarkable Premier League campaign, while O’Nien has lived the journey from League One to Europe.
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