On this day in 1995, a soon-to-be legend was installed as the club’s new permanent manager.
Step up, the one and only Peter Reid.
After taking charge in March and guiding the Lads to safety, Reid took Division One by storm as they sealed promotion to the Premier League in his first full season in charge.
12 months later, the Black Cats were relegated on the final day of the campaign following defeat to Wimbledon, but the club would keep the faith and Reid remained.
After narrowly missing out on an instant return to the top flight at Wembley, the former England international dusted himself and his squad down and they clinched the title in April 1999 in record-breaking fashion.
Consecutive seventh-place finishes followed as Sunderland sealed their highest Premier League finishes to date, with Reid’s spell in charge coming to an end in October 2002.
He left a legend.
Also on this day: In 1950, Willie Watson became the first player to be named in in an England World Cup squad.