Two years ago today, Chris Rigg made his Sunderland debut, and he’s now one of the best players in Regis Le Bris’ squad.
Sunderland has a rich history of producing incredible young players, and Chris Rigg is right up there as one of the most exciting of them all.
The teenager is an integral part of Regis Le Bris’ team as they push for promotion in the Championship this season; so much so that it’s hard to believe he is still only 17-years-old.
Rigg is wanted by Premier League clubs, rather unsurprisingly, but for now, Sunderland fans are just enjoying looking back on his two years in the spotlight.
Chris Rigg made history for Sunderland on his debut
Sunderland’s official Twitter account posted on Tuesday, January 7 to share that it was two years to the day since Rigg first took to the field for the first-team, making his senior debut in the FA Cup tie with Shrewsbury Town.
They wrote: “On this day in 2023, Chris Rigg made history by becoming our youngest-ever outfield player.”
Rigg wrote himself into the Sunderland history books by coming on as an 81st minute substitute — replacing Edouard Michut — at the age of 15 years, six months, and 20 days. Only Derek Forster, a goalkeeper from the 1960s, has Rigg beat when it comes to youngest debuts.
| Youngest Sunderland debutants | Age on debut | Date of debut |
|---|---|---|
| Derek Forster | 15 years, 6 months, 3 days | August 22, 1964 |
| Chris Rigg | 15 years, 6 months, 20 days | January 7, 2023 |
| Jimmy Hamilton | 16 years, 3 months, 11 days | September 25, 1971 |
| Bali Mumba | 16 years, 6 months, 28 days | May 6, 2018 |
| Dan Neil | 16 years, 11 months | November 13, 2018 |
| Tom Watson | 17 years, 10 days | April 18, 2023 |
Among the replies to the original post, one Sunderland fan wrote: “What an incredible moment for Chris Rigg and Sunderland AFC! Proud to see such young talent making history. Here’s to many more milestones ahead.”
Another joked, “Chris Rigg, Luke O’Nien, Dan Ballard, Jobe Bellingham, Jack Clarke, Patrick Roberts, Dan Neil, and Amad Diallo all celebrating that goal two years ago. Criminal we’ve not won the Champions League yet.”
On Rigg, one fan posted: “What a player,” while another recalled the “immediate impact” he made in helping force a corner that led to Sunderland’s equaliser on the night, before a dramatic late winner clinched the tie for the Black Cats.
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The sky’s the limit for Chris Rigg, he will keep getting better and better
It’s wild to think about the way the last two years have played out for Rigg, who is now one of the most valuable players in the Championship and is being tracked by a number of top clubs in the Premier League.
Thankfully, Rigg himself played down talk of a move away from Sunderland, and when he returns from injury, he will be integral to the Black Cats’ chances of getting promotion this season.
He’s having a great season as it is, but at just 17-years-old, there is still so much more to come from Rigg in the future, which is scary to think about, but very exciting for Sunderland fans.
Who knows where Rigg will be in another two years? Most likely the Premier League, but whether he will be there with Sunderland or not is another matter.