July 27 marks the 33rd birthday of former Sunderland Captain Lorik Cana, so to celebrate the special occasion safc.com has reflected on what the Albanian once gave Wearside…
Players who wear the red and white jersey are the heartbeat of the region, and down the years many players have fitted a particular mould that signifies hard work and desire.
I mirëpritur, Cana. Renowned for being a passionately intense area, the gladiator midfielder moved to Wearside from Marseille in July 2009 and made just 31 appearances in a solitary season in red and white.
Instantly given the captains armband by then manager Steve Bruce, Cana led from the front and epitomised everything that Sunderland and the fans stood for.
Tough in the tackle, a never say die attitude and a fearless competitor, the Albanian international left the Stadium of Light and moved to Turkish outfit Galatasaray.
But while the move left many fans disappointment, Cana departed the Black Cats with them in a special place in his heart…
“If Sunderland were an army going into battle, the biggest quality for this team, especially for the north-east, is the heart,” Cana said.
“My biggest quality is that I play with the heart. My determination and enthusiasm have helped me to succeed.
“English players are very good at that and you can see now that in the Premier League there are a lot of foreign players who bring in their own qualities but must try to take this mentality and become a better player.
“By mentality, I mean passion and trying to instil the fighting spirit – all those kind of things which are the characteristics of English football.”
Everyone at Sunderland AFC would like to wish Lorik Cana as very happy 33rd birthday.
