It’s always fun when a random blast from the past pops up and does something to put them right back into the minds of Sunderland fans.
Over the years, Sunderland have had genuine legends and cult icons strut their stuff at the Stadium of Light.
Now, a fresh generation of stars are looking to guide the team to glory by reaching the Premier League this season under Regis Le Bris.
Sadly, some players from the recent past had a much less significant impact for the Black Cats. However, one man who struggled on Wearside is heading back to the North East in an attempt to help bring glory to another club in the area.
Victor Anichebe is planning to buy Gateshead FC
As per Chronicle Live, it has emerged that Victor Anichebe is part of a group looking to purchase Gateshead FC in the near future.
The National League side are currently fan-owned, after financial issues left the club on the brink in 2019 before supporters salvaged the situation.
It is said the club itself is keeping quiet on the matter right now, but the speculation is picking up pace, with James Copley suggesting things are moving towards a conclusion.
He tweeted: “Been told that this is happening from several sources. Victor Anichebe is heading up a consortium to buy Gateshead. I did not have this on my bingo card list for 2025!”
Gateshead won the National League North title in 2021/22, and are now sitting in the top six in the fifth tier, hoping for a play-off adventure at the end of the season that could see them return to the Football League even before Anichebe comes in.
Surely, the former Sunderland man and his consortium will be looking at this as an opportunity to replicate what has been achieved at Wrexham over the past few years under Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, albeit on a smaller scale.
Remembering Victor Anichebe’s time at Sunderland
Anichebe joined Sunderland in 2016 after being released by West Brom. The forward spent just one season on Wearside, bagging three goals in 18 Premier League appearances for the Mackems.
He later made the move to Beijing for a six-month spell in Chinese football, but when that didn’t work out, he was released and eventually retired in 2018.
While we wouldn’t put Anichebe in our worst Sunderland XI, he was a bit of a disappointment and really struggled in front of goal with a fairly dense catalogue of big misses.
Still, as with most players who come to Sunderland, the fans will always have a little soft spot for a player who gave his everything for the team. And clearly, he enjoyed his time in this part of the world so much that he’s back again for a new challenge.