Sunderland is set to make its long-awaited return to European football this Wednesday as the Stadium of Light prepares to host Dutch side AZ Alkmaar. For the Wearsiders, the Europa League opener marks a significant milestone, ending a 53-year hiatus from continental competition that dates back to their 1973 Cup Winners’ Cup campaign. While the club’s previous foray into Europe was marred by financial strain and a dip in attendance, Wednesday night is expected to draw a near-capacity crowd of 49,000.
Club captain Granit Xhaka, who has previously reached two Europa League finals during his time with Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen, is anticipating an intense environment. “The stadium will be on fire,” Xhaka remarked, emphasizing the need for his teammates to match that intensity both in and out of possession. The 33-year-old midfielder noted that chasing another European final with Sunderland remains a significant personal ambition.
The current European challenge stands in stark contrast to 1973, when the club struggled with the financial burdens of the era and the breakup of their iconic Wembley-winning squad. Today, under the majority ownership of Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, the club aims for long-term sustainability rather than isolated adventures. Manager Régis Le Bris, who has a long-standing relationship with playmaker Enzo Le Fée dating back to their time at Lorient, insists that his squad has earned their place through hard work in the Premier League.
Sunderland’s path to Europe involved a seventh-place finish last season, punctuated by a victory over Chelsea at the Stadium of Light. Reflecting on that achievement, Xhaka, who chose to join the club this summer despite interest from Xabi Alonso, told fans, “This is just the beginning; we want more.” The team enters this European campaign with a balanced roster of experienced players, including Nordi Mukiele, Reinildo, Omar Alderete, Noah Sadiki, Le Fée, and Brian Brobbey.
The squad is also bolstered by players who have risen through the ranks during the club’s recent resurgence, such as Luke O’Nien, who was playing in League One just five years ago. Le Bris remains focused on maintaining a high level of competition across both domestic and European fronts. “We want to be strong in both the Premier League and Europe,” he said, noting the excitement building among his players ahead of the AZ Alkmaar fixture.
Opposing Sunderland is an AZ side currently in strong form, having remained unbeaten through their opening Eredivisie matches. Xhaka is well aware of the quality they face, particularly in young midfield talent Kees Smit. However, the captain remains optimistic about Sunderland’s prospects, citing the internal belief and energy within the dressing room as critical factors for success.
“To succeed in Europe you need energy in the dressing room,” Xhaka explained. “The first step I took in the dressing room last season, I had a very good feeling. I could smell that it was special.” He emphasized that the group possesses the necessary mentality and hunger to compete at this level. “If you don’t have this desire, this hunger, this mentality to compete every single day, forget about this level. But this team has it.”
As the club prepares for future fixtures, including a high-profile visit to the San Siro in December, the mood on Wearside is one of optimism. T-shirts declaring “Mackem in Milan” are already a popular sight among the supporters, symbolizing a new era. While 1973 served as a fleeting European experience, the current leadership is working to ensure that this season is merely the first of many such campaigns for the club. The report also notes that back in the autumn of 1973 a lighting system compatible with the demands of broadcasting in black and white was proving increasingly outdated and Sunderland responded by doubling admission prices for the second leg of th. The report also notes that it dictated that a disappointing crowd of under 23,000 turned out to watch, coming at a moment when miners and railway workers were engaged in long-running industrial action and north-easterners’ finances were duly tight. The report also notes that fifty-three years on, Wearside’s financial outlook is once again uncertain as the gig economy makes security a stranger for many and the cost of living spirals, but a near 49,000-capacity crowd is still expected at the S. The report also notes that club directors viewed it as a useful means of raising the cash necessary to fund floodlight upgrades at Roker Park necessitated by England’s widespread adoption of colour television, w hen Sunderland last played European football. The report also notes that it dictated that a disappointing crowd of under 23,000 turned out to watch Dennis Tueart’s penalty secure a 3-0 aggregate win, coming at a moment when miners and railway workers were engaged in long-running industrial action and north-easterners’ finances were duly tight. The report also notes that for me, it’s a big, big dream to reach another European final and to get it with this club.”, i’ve always been a dreamer and.
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