Sunderland are set to make their long-awaited return to European football on Wednesday when they take on AZ Alkmaar at the Stadium of Light, marking their first continental match in 53 years. The occasion is another major milestone in the club’s remarkable revival after years of struggles. Just over four years ago, Sunderland were playing in League One, the third tier of English football. Since then, the Black Cats have enjoyed a dramatic rise, securing promotion to the Championship in 2022 before earning a place in the Premier League through the play-offs in May 2025. Their first season back in England’s top flight exceeded expectations as Sunderland finished seventh, earning a place in the Europa League and giving their supporters another reason to celebrate.

Sunderland have a proud history in English football. Only six clubs have won more top-flight league titles, although the club’s sixth and most recent championship came as far back as 1936. The club enjoyed a reputation for ambition during the 1950s and became known as the “Bank of England club” because of their willingness to spend heavily on players. However, the investment brought limited success, with Sunderland’s last major trophy coming in 1973 when they defeated Leeds United in the FA Cup final.

Despite decades away from the top level, Sunderland retained an extraordinary connection with their supporters. Even during their League One years, the club regularly attracted crowds of more than 30,000. Now, the 49,000-capacity Stadium of Light, which opened in 1997, is once again hosting Premier League football and will welcome European competition for the first time. The turnaround has also been a major achievement for owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, who bought a stake in Sunderland in 2021 before increasing his shareholding. The appointment of French coach Regis Le Bris in June 2024 proved particularly significant. Le Bris guided the team back to the Premier League at the first attempt before overseeing their impressive seventh-place finish. With experienced midfielder and captain Granit Xhaka leading the side, Sunderland are preparing for their European challenge despite a mixed start to the new domestic campaign. “For the club, it is a symbol. We are improving, the momentum is strong and for our fans it is going to be crazy,” Le Bris told TNT Sports.

“We are really proud to be in this position. We earned this opportunity last season with a great campaign. We faced difficult moments, but we remained consistent.” The Frenchman also stressed the importance of maintaining the bond between the club and the city.“It is important to show our desire, to show the city our togetherness and the connection with our fans,” he said. For Sunderland supporters, the transformation has been particularly emotional after years of disappointment. The club’s return to the European stage has brought a renewed sense of optimism across the city. Michael Lough, writing for the Wise Men Say website, described the change as a remarkable one for supporters who had grown accustomed to disappointment. “Supporting Sunderland has gone from being a solemn duty... to something that, for the first time in generations, is bringing joy to people's lives,” he wrote. The sense of unity between the team and its supporters has also become a defining feature of the club’s revival. Le Bris frequently speaks about the importance of being “connected”, a feeling supporters believe has returned to Sunderland in recent years. Sunderland are not the only English club entering the Europa League with a sense of occasion this season. Bournemouth are also making their first appearance in European competition after finishing sixth in the Premier League last campaign.

Andoni Iraola guided Bournemouth to that historic finish before leaving to take charge of Liverpool, with German coach Marco Rose now leading the south coast club. Bournemouth will travel to Spain on Thursday to face Real Sociedad. However, Rose’s side have endured a frustrating start to their Premier League campaign, failing to win any of their first four matches despite taking the lead in every game and repeatedly conceding late goals. “Everyone here in Bournemouth is looking forward to this game. It is going to be a special night for the club against top opposition. I’m really proud to be part of this,” Rose said.

Crystal Palace complete the English contingent in the Europa League after winning the UEFA Conference League last season. English clubs have enjoyed considerable success in the competition in recent years, with Tottenham and Aston Villa lifting the Europa League in the previous two seasons.

However, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace arrive with different stories and far less European pedigree. Their presence could add an unpredictable element to the competition as they prepare to face some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including AC Milan, Juventus and Benfica.

For Sunderland in particular, Wednesday’s match represents far more than another European fixture. It is a symbol of how dramatically the club has transformed after years in the lower divisions and a chance for a new generation of supporters to experience continental football at the Stadium of Light.