Sunderland Keep Regis Le Bris Despite Sitting Bottom of Premier League

What changed

Sunderland will keep Regis Le Bris as manager despite sitting bottom of the Premier League after winning one of its first nine matches.

The decision follows Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at newly promoted Coventry. The board is backing stability and collective responsibility, with Chelsea due in the north-east before the international break.

Why it matters

Le Bris has already delivered the club’s biggest recent gains. Appointed in June 2024, he led Sunderland back to the Premier League after an eight-year absence, then guided them to seventh place and Europa League qualification.

That makes this more than a simple reaction to a bad opening month. Sunderland is weighing a poor league start against a manager who has already taken the club from the Championship to Europe. The contrast is stark: bottom domestically, but unbeaten in two of three Europa League league-phase matches.

The next tests arrive quickly. Dinamo Zagreb visit on Thursday, followed by Chelsea. Sunderland’s current position is secure for now, but the report does not say how long that stance will last or what results might change it.