David Elliott says…
Régis Le Bris is a fantastic fit for Sunderland.
I love his humility, the fact that he understands the city and the role the club plays in people’s lives. He is intelligent, perceptive and remarkably level headed when others seem to lose their heads. His press conferences are brilliant, so full of humour and insight.
If I had to pick a match and a moment it would be the play off final. He won the tactical (and sartorial) battle with shrewd substitutions that have led to where we are today. You can
see how much the team has developed after today’s match and Le Bris has likewise developed as a head coach.
We’re in very capable hands indeed. Here’s to more success with him at the helm.
John Wilson says…
We don’t know the private Le Bris.
We only know his public face from interviews and clips in training and on the touchline, but what we can surmise from that is that he’s a genuinely lovely man: thoughtful, unassuming, humble and slightly shy.
As a head coach, he’s without doubt one of the most studious and conscientious we have ever known. A “mini Wenger” as our captain framed him; a professor of the game, with degrees to match.
My abiding memory of him will always be after our Wembley victory in the playoff final. Looking slightly uncomfortable in suit and tie, nevertheless, he cut a dashing figure next to the slovenly Chris Wilder beside him in the technical area.
When Tommy Watson scored that winner, Le Bris was off down the touchline, showing unbridled joy. But the celebrations on the pitch afterwards is what remains with me. The players were all in groups, arms around each other, jubilant, but I clocked Le Bris wandering around the pitch, observing the crowd and the atmosphere.
This was a moment for the fans and the team and it was as though he didn’t need or want recognition. A man on his own, with his private thoughts, and needing no fanfare. The players saw this and dragged him over to join in — very satisfying for me to watch.
He’s thriving to be an expert in his field. The best chess player, the best motivator, simply the best. And he’s ours. In his interview prior to his 100th game, he listed the milestones: Coventry, Sheffield United, West Ham, the Visitors twice, Chelsea, and now AZ Alkmaar. You can’t argue with that glorious summary of moments.
I know it’s not fashionable to keep managers for a long time these days, but it does happen and I’d love to think he’d be our Arsene Wenger for longevity reasons as well as technical nous.
Consistency in all areas makes a lot of sense. Congratulations, Régis. You deserve the accolades for your hard work and dedication, and here’s to the next 100.
Owen Sara says…
Top games for Le Bris…
Sheffield Wednesday (H) 4-0
The one that started it all. An absolute masterclass in pressing and this was a sign of things to come!
Sheffield United (H) 2-0
A change back to the classic 4-4-2 and we beat a promotion rival, and of course the playoff final gave us memories to go to the grave with and finally brought us back to the promised land on an emotionally-fuelled day.
Manchester City (H) 0-0
We were superb all evening and gave as good as we got. We easily did enough to win it and Ruben Dias was ragdolled by Brian Brobbey all game.
Chelsea (A) 1-2
To be in the Stamford Bridge away end as Chemsdine Talbi stroked it into the corner for us to beat the world champions was simply sensational and something I’ll never ever forget.
The fact Enzo Maresca spoke after the game and said he was completely taken back by Le Bris set up sums up his time at Sunderland. He’s a calm, astute and highly intelligent manager that’s given us lifelong memories, and we’ve been on a meteoric rise in the two seasons he’s been here.
Here’s hoping we have another one hundred games and many more memories to be created.
Mark Ryan says…
When they get a new job, some managers seem to think they need to put on a show for the fans when a goal is scored, with theatrical fist pumps, ‘bro hugs’, knee slides and the like — but not Le Bris. I think it took months before he cracked a smile on the sideline, which made his late season celebrations all the more enjoyable.
He didn’t put on a show, because that’s not who he is.
Tactically, seventy seven of his one hundred matches have been decided by one goal or less and emotionally, he always plays it close to the chest.
