Former Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill has taken a thinly veiled swipe at ex-owner Ellis Short while praising new club captain Granit Xhaka for his transformative influence at the Stadium of Light.
The Swiss international has quickly won over supporters since arriving on Wearside, helping the Black Cats make an impressive return to Premier League life. Under Regis Le Bris, Sunderland sit fourth in the table with 17 points from their opening nine games — a start few could have predicted.
Following their remarkable 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, O’Neill joined Martin Keown on talkSPORT to discuss Sunderland’s resurgence — and took the opportunity to reflect on how far the club has come since his own time in charge.
O’Neill takes aim at Ellis Short
When asked about his enduring affection for Sunderland, O’Neill didn’t hold back.
“I still love the club — even more now that Ellis Short has gone,” he said. “It’s a fantastic football club, always has been. I supported them as a kid when they were at Roker Park, listening to the games on the radio at boarding school when I was 11. It’s great to see them back where they belong.”
The former boss also credited head coach Regis Le Bris for uniting the squad and restoring belief among fans.
“With the number of points they’ve already got, people might start dreaming a bit, but the manager’s right to keep things grounded,” O’Neill continued. “The team that came up wouldn’t have survived without strengthening, and they’ve done that brilliantly. The atmosphere at the Stadium of Light is incredible again — it feels like a proper football club.”
Keown hails Xhaka’s leadership
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown was equally full of praise — particularly for Xhaka, whose leadership has been vital to Sunderland’s fast start.
“At Arsenal, he divided opinion, and even at Leverkusen he was allowed to leave — which was a mistake,” Keown said. “But what a signing he’s been for Sunderland. You can see and hear him on the pitch — he’s constantly talking, organising, calming things down or pushing the team forward when needed.
“In the Premier League, you need players with experience and composure, and Xhaka brings exactly that. Sunderland look like they belong in this division again. Five wins from nine is a fantastic start, and with two big home games coming up, the momentum is really building.”
“He’s transformed the dressing room” — O’Neill
O’Neill echoed Keown’s admiration for the former Arsenal captain, noting the impact he’s had both on and off the field.
“He’s been outstanding,” O’Neill said. “You listen to the younger players — they talk about his influence every day. That’s what true leadership looks like. It’s not just about ability; it’s about caring for the club and those around you.
“He’s clearly embraced the role and matured massively since those difficult days at Arsenal. He’s channelled that experience into something positive, and it shows. I’ve got huge respect for what he’s doing at Sunderland — he’s been the heartbeat of their revival.”
With Sunderland thriving and the Stadium of Light buzzing once more, even O’Neill — never shy with his opinions — couldn’t hide his optimism: “It’s just great to see Sunderland back competing properly again.”