2001 Sunderland Home – Kevin Phillips #10 XXL

The 2000/01 season was a strong one for Sunderland AFC, led by manager Peter Reid.

• Premier League: Sunderland finished 7th, repeating their success from the previous season. With 57 points, they narrowly missed out on a place in Europe but cemented themselves as a tough, competitive side in the league.

• Key Matches:

  • Beat Liverpool 1–0 at Anfield in August 2000.

  • Held Manchester United to a 2–2 draw at Old Trafford.

• Domestic Cups: Eliminated early in both the FA Cup and League Cup, but their league form was the main highlight.

• Style of Play: Known for being organized, hardworking, and difficult to beat, Sunderland were built around a strong defensive unit and the lethal goalscoring partnership of Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn.

• Kit: The 2000/01 Sunderland home kit, by Nike, featured the club’s traditional red and white stripes with black shorts. It was worn during one of their most successful Premier League campaigns.

2. Player’s Impact – Kevin Phillips (2000/01)

Kevin Phillips, Sunderland’s star striker and 1999/2000 European Golden Shoe winner, remained the focal point of the team.

• Appearances: 36 Premier League matches.

• Goals: Scored 13 league goals (after his incredible 30-goal haul the previous season).

• Key Contributions:

  • Consistently led the line with sharp finishing and intelligent movement.

  • Formed a deadly strike partnership with Niall Quinn, combining Quinn’s aerial ability with Phillips’ pace and poaching instincts.

• Role: Played as Sunderland’s main forward, spearheading attacks and finishing off chances created by Don Hutchison, Stefan Schwarz, and Julio Arca in midfield.

• Legacy: Although he couldn’t match the remarkable 1999/2000 season, Phillips’ 13 goals still made him Sunderland’s top scorer, reaffirming his reputation as one of the best English strikers of his era.

3. Full Squad List – Sunderland 2000/01

Manager: Peter Reid

Goalkeepers:

• Thomas Sørensen

• Jürgen Macho

• Michael Ingham

Defenders:

• Jody Craddock

• Paul Butler

• Darren Williams

• Michael Gray

• Emerson Thome

• Chris Makin

• Stanislav Varga

Midfielders:

• Don Hutchison

• Stefan Schwarz

• Gavin McCann

• Kevin Kilbane

• Julio Arca

• Alex Rae

• John Oster

• Paul Thirlwell

Forwards:

• Kevin Phillips

• Niall Quinn

• Lilian Laslandes

• Milton Núñez