Former England striker Jermain Defoe shared his joy over Sunderland’s return to the Premier League on the latest episode of Football’s Greatest: Could It Be Magic, hosted by Joe Cole and Ashley Cole, describing the club as a sleeping giant. Defoe, who remains a fan favourite at the Stadium of Light, reflected on his fond memories with the club and praised their strong start to the season.
As reported by SoftFootball, Manchester United defeated Sunderland 2-0 to claim their first clean sheet of the campaign, but Defoe believes Sunderland’s comeback to the top flight is still something special. Defoe said:
It was amazing, Ash. I remember speaking to Darren Bent years ago when he went to Sunderland from Tottenham. He told me, JD, the club’s unbelievable — the atmosphere, the fan base. Even when they dropped to League One, I always thought, This club’s a sleeping giant. To be back in the Premier League now is unbelievable. And what a start—Isidore, the centre-forward, has scored in all three home games, and he’s got the number 18 shirt.
Ashley Cole also praised Sunderland’s progress, noting:
They’ve continued their form from last year. Watching them in the Championship, I was like, They’re strong; they can run.
Defoe added:
Even Granit Xhaka signing was a big one. He was on my A licence. He messaged me to ask about the club. I told him he’d love it there—the fans are amazing, and it’s a great place for experienced players to guide the young ones. He’s loving it.
Defoe concluded the discussion by praising Sunderland’s smart recruitment:
They’ve done really clever business. It’s great to see the club thriving again.
Joe Cole, who recently featured in a charity match at Stamford Bridge, where Hazard expressed his delight, as reported by Softfootball, echoed Defoe’s optimism about Sunderland’s project, describing their recruitment as clever and balanced.
