My Three Favourite Ever Sunderland Players: #2 — Tom Albrighton

03/20/2025 02:00 AM

We've all got our own list of all-time favourite Sunderland players, so who would make your top three? Next up is Tom Albrighton, who's gone for three modern-day heroes!

Julio Arca

I still remember it now: a shirt at least a size too big, the slight hunch in his back and socks just about round his ankles. His appearance raised questions but his performances answered them ten times over.

He was never much to look at but the grace with which Arca played will forever be burned into my memory.

The diminutive Argentine had all the flair you'd expect from a South American at a time when Sunderland were about as pragmatic as you can get, and it was the perfect accompaniment to what was at times some devastating football.

It's hard to really describe Arca with any great adequacy and despite one obvious moment writing him into Sunderland folklore, he's maybe best defined by being one of a select few players whose God-given talent could get the entire stadium on their feet.

Thomas Sorensen

Sorensen was a bit of a hero for me growing up.

When you're just a young lad and you're a goalkeeper, heroes are few and far between but Tommy played that role superbly. He was a rock at the back for some of the best Sunderland teams I've ever seen and to this day remains one of the most commanding, too.

His iconic penalty save at St James' Park will forever live with many in red and white — and maybe even Tommy himself! Sorensen rarely ever let the Lads down and that's a credit in itself.

I'll always love him for one particular reason: whenever anyone asked why I'd want to be a keeper, simply saying 'Because of Thomas Sorensen' was an answer that received no rebuttal.

Niall Quinn

Quinny — what can you say that hasn't been said a thousand times already?

Rarely has a man been so iconic and talismanic at a football club. His performances were often excellent; at times sublime and he was occasionally utterly unplayable.

Another player who always gave everything for the shirt and deserving of all his credit for that alone, his footballing skill was often overlooked and I'd argue that very few players have ever mastered the 'chest and volley' like Sir Niall.

He was never the most gainly looking player but his looks belied his skill, with a highlight reel of goals that even some of our finer players would be envious of.

Off the pitch, Niall was less a Sir and more a Saint.

His honour and kindness is still felt on Wearside to this day, whether it be from the thousands of fans of the club he just about saved to those who've benefitted from his charity or the parents and children who've benefitted from the Children's Centre which bears his name.

Quinn has left a mark on Sunderland like none other and that's why he'll always be my favourite. I'd say 'build that statue', but knowing Quinny, he'd be too humble to let it be.