AliousHealy Hails Sunderland’s Passionate Fanbase and Bright Future Under Régis Le Bris
Northern Ireland legend David Healy has spoken warmly of his time at Sunderland, revealing his ongoing admiration for the club and its fans while also praising the exciting new direction the team is heading in under current leadership.
The former striker, who still holds the record as Northern Ireland’s all-time top scorer with 36 goals in 95 appearances, signed with Sunderland in 2008. Though he only made 21 appearances during his three-year spell at the Stadium of Light, Healy admits the bond he formed with the club and its supporters has never faded.
Now an accomplished manager with Linfield in the Northern Irish Premiership—where he’s recently secured his sixth league title—Healy remains closely connected to Sunderland, particularly through his role in nurturing current Black Cats defender Trai Hume. Healy featured prominently in Sunderland’s recent documentary *The Boy From Ballymena*, which traces Hume’s rise from Linfield to Wearside.
Speaking to *safc.com*, Healy reflected on the support he received during his time with the club: “I know I didn’t light it up at Sunderland, but I truly loved being part of the club. The fans were always incredible with me. Even during warm-ups, I’d hear them calling for me to come on—it meant a lot, even if I didn’t feel I’d earned it at times.”
Healy, whose career spanned clubs like Manchester United, Leeds United, Preston North End, and Rangers, said the size and passion of the Sunderland fanbase stood out—even when he was playing against them. He recalled one particularly memorable clash while at Leeds United: “It was a Boxing Day match and 44,000 fans were packed into the stadium. Neither team was flying high at the time, but the energy was off the charts. That’s when it hit me how massive Sunderland is as a club.”
Though no longer playing, Healy remains a keen observer of Sunderland’s progress. He’s been particularly impressed with the work of head coach Régis Le Bris, who has overseen a transformation marked by a high-energy playing style and the emergence of young talent.
“There was a bit of uncertainty when Le Bris came in—he wasn’t a household name—but the structure and intensity of his teams really stand out,” Healy said. “They’re playing with real confidence and identity now. Credit has to go to both the recruitment team and the manager for turning things around.”
As the club continues to chase promotion, Healy believes they are on the right track. “Sunderland has always had the fanbase, the infrastructure, and the history. Now, with the right people in place, promotion to the Premier League feels like a realistic next step.”
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