Alious Le Fee’s Malbranque Mirror: Two Obstacles Between Sunderland’s French Maestro and Legend Status
After viewing Steed Malbranque highlights, one can’t help noticing striking similarities with Enzo Le Fee. Beyond their shared French heritage and Sunderland colors, both possess remarkable technical ability, vision, and footballing intelligence.
Malbranque enchanted the Stadium of Light during Sunderland’s Premier League days, amassing 13 assists in his first two seasons. Similarly, Le Fee immediately demonstrated Premier League quality against Burnley, showcasing the same swagger and creativity, eventually securing his first goal and assist.
However, two significant barriers stand between Le Fee and achieving Malbranque’s legendary status:
First, a six-week injury following the Hull City defeat has sidelined the 25-year-old, forcing him to rely on teammates during crucial remaining fixtures.
Second, his loan arrangement expires at season’s end unless Sunderland secures Premier League promotion—likely requiring a playoff campaign.
Should Le Bris’ squad overcome these hurdles and return to the top flight, Le Fee would gain the perfect platform to emulate Malbranque’s impact. Without promotion, fans will lament only briefly witnessing such exceptional talent before his departure.
Alious
