Sunderland are heading into the new season full of both nerves and excitement.
Despite changing managers very often, Sunderland fans usually know what they are getting themselves into, having previously appointed British and Irish managers.
However, Regis Le Bris is only their third head coach from outside Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland in their history.
Other than a mixed bag at Lorient, the Frenchman is relatively unknown to the Black Cats.
He has been set the tough task of reaching the Championship play-offs though and Sunderland supporters are having to rely on Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman in that they have appointed the right man.
Despite uncertainty, EFL pundit Justin Peach believes Sunderland and Le Bris are actually a ‘really good match up’.
Le Bris’ time at Sunderland can go one of three ways
Speaking on the Second Tier Podcast, Peach said: “Le Bris is coming in as a complete unknown, and with hat, it could be a poor appointment or it could be an incredible appointment, or it could just be six out of ten. But I think actually with Sunderland, what they’ve got there is a manager who is coming into a squad that he’s capable of developing.
“He’s shown at Lorient, he’s experienced as a technical director of academies, etc. He knows how to get the best out of young players. He knows how to improve them and develop them. And what Sunderland have is a very, very talented quality collection of young players who are bidding to reach up and up and up and up and just keep going. And this squad has already shown that they can compete, they can get into the play offs.
“The squad is strong and I think with a manager who knows how to develop players, I think it’s just a very good match up. Obviously the results, that’s where we’re going to judge them, but if you’re looking at purely judging them just for judgement’s sake, then I like it a lot.”
Le Bris’ development of players at Lorient should excite fans
Lorient had the joint-second youngest team in Ligue 1 during the 2022-23 season (24.4 years old), featuring the likes of Nice striker Terem Moffi, current Roma star Enzo Le Fee and Bournemouth’s Romaine Faivre.
Le Bris had a number of exciting young players on his hands, with 12 of his 15 signings during that season being 24 years old and younger.
A number of his key signings were developed and have since gone onto bigger clubs, and while Sunderland will be eager to avoid that, it proves how brilliant of a coach he is with those yet to reach their potential.
Whether he can prove himself in a Championship dugout is yet to be seen, but the early signs are all there for a promising career on Wearside.