1999–2000 Sunderland A.F.C. season

The 1999-2000 season was Sunderland's second season in the Premier League, and their first season in the league since they were relegated in 1997.

Sunderland made an impressive return to the top flight and quickly established themselves as real contenders for a European place. Striker Kevin Phillips was the country's top scorer in the league with 30 goals, which meant he became the first Englishman to win the European Golden Shoe award.^[1]

In the end, the club's seventh place finish wasn't good enough for a place in Europe but it was still Sunderland's highest finish since 1955.

This season was the first in which the club was sponsored by car dealership Reg Vardy, and the last in which ASICS made the club's kit.^[2]

Squad

^[3] Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Results

League

After losing their opening game 4-0 to Chelsea results picked up for Sunderland and a run of five straight wins saw the club rise to third place by mid-October. The team remained around this position until a run of poor results that started with a 5-0 defeat at Everton which started a run of 11 games without a win. The poor run ended with a win over Everton before the club settled into seventh place. The full results for the season were as follows.^[4]

Note: Sunderland scores are shown first and dates follow the British standard of day/month/year.

Cups

Sunderland began their Football League Cup campaign in the Second Round beating Walsall 3-2 at home and 5-0 away for an 8-2 win on aggregate. They were eliminated by Wimbledon in the following round, losing 3-2 at Selhurst Park after extra time.^[4]

In the FA Cup Sunderland joined the other top-flight clubs in entering at the Third Round stage where they defeated Portsmouth 1-0. However in the fourth round Sunderland suffered a giant-killing, losing 1-0 to Tranmere Rovers.^[4]

References