A whole host of players have made a long-lasting impression on Sunderland over the last three decades after becoming firm favourites with the Stadium of Light faithful.
Who can forget Kevin Phillips’ transformation from cut-price signing to a European Golden Boot winner during his time on Wearside? Or Julio Arca joining as a relative unknown and departing as a genuine cult hero six years later? Then there is Niall Quinn, who forged a fearsome partnership will Phillips that terrorised Premier League defences around the turn of the millennium and pushed the club to the brink of challenging for a place in European competition.
But Sunderland being Sunderland, there are also a number of players that have almost been forgotten following their own spells in the famous red and white stripes. We take a look back through the last three decades to identify 15 players that endured less than memorable spells on Wearside.

13. Benjani
Pictured playing against the Black Cats for Blackburn, the Zimbabwe international spent the second half of the 2010/11 season on loan at the Stadium of Light but failed to find the net in eight appearances. | Getty Images

14. Patrick Mboma
The Cameroon international joined the Black Cats on loan in 2002 and made one of his first appearances in a Wear-Tyne derby with Newcastle. He would go on to score just one goal in eight appearances before returning to Serie A club Parma. | Getty Images

15. Paulo Da Silva
A veteran at international level after making almost 150 appearances for Paraguay, Da Silva joined Sunderland in July 2019 and made 24 appearances before moving to Spanish club Real Zaragoza on the final day of the January transfer window in 2011. | Getty Images