Chris Rigg has namedropped former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray in a recent interview with Mirror.
Sunderland academy gem and now first-team hero Chris Rigg has spoken to Mirror recently, giving an interesting interview about his time with the club so far.
Hebburn-born Rigg, 17, signed his first professional contract in the summer, now being under contract at the Stadium of Light until the summer of 2027.
Rigg has been linked with Real Madrid this season. Manchester United are also keen on Rigg at Sunderland after what’s been an emphatic start to the new season.
Sunderland fans and pundits alike have been blown away by the maturity and overall quality of Rigg under Regis Le Bris this season.
He’s started the last eight Championship games for the Black Cats now, scoring twice including the opening goal in the 2-2 draw against Leeds United before the break.
Chris Rigg namedrops Tony Mowbray as he shares funny Sunderland story
In his recent interview, Rigg revealed how he would finish school, and immediately go and train with the Sunderland first-team at the age of 15.
Last season, Rigg made 21 Championship appearances for the Black Cats, scoring twice.
Rigg said: “I would take my tie off quickly, and get into kit before anyone saw me. It was mad. I was trying to hide! Take the tie off, trying to look cool! It is funny when I look back.
“But our players here were unbelievable with me. At 15, I was so scared going into training, or match days.
“They were so welcoming and took me in. I couldn’t have done it without them, or Tony Mowbray.”
This week, Rigg was named EFL Young Player of the Month for September, becoming just the fourth Sunderland player to collect the award.
What did Tony Mowbray think of Chris Rigg
It was no secret that Mowbray was a huge fan of Rigg, and that he had big expectations for his future career.
It was Mowbray who gave Rigg his first-team debut in August 2023, with Rigg scoring against Crewe Alexandra in the Carabao Cup.
That day, Rigg became the club’s youngest-ever goal-scorer and also the League Cup’s youngest-ever goal-scorer.
Mowbray’s thoughts on Rigg may be best summed up in the below quotes, which came from the former Sunderland boss in November 2023, speaking to BBC.
“He is this warrior-like character, a personality and internal mechanism.
“He wants to win every tackle, every 5-a-side, every contest he’s in, which is pretty unique in a footballer.
“I shouldn’t really say it, but it’s that Roy Keane-esque type of ‘nastiness’.
“He’s a nice kid, but not so much of a nice kid when he’s got his boots on and is on the pitch.”
Mowbray added: “Chris warrants being around our first team every day.
“He warrants getting on the pitch in football matches to try to affect them and I’m pretty sure in the next few years he’ll warrant a regular starting place and potentially captains it.
“I hope he can stay here and fulfil for some years to help the club progress and do well.”