Sunderland return to European competition on Thursday evening for the first time in 53 years, hosting AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa League at the Stadium of Light. The club’s last European campaign dates back to 1973, when they competed in the European Cup Winners’ Cup following their FA Cup triumph over Leeds United.
In October 1973, Sunderland faced Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon in the second round of the tournament. Sporting had chosen to stay at the Norseman Hotel in the new town of Peterlee, generating excitement among local children. Paul Barron, then nine years old, recalled how he and his school friends from Our Lady of the Rosary gathered at the hotel lobby to meet the players, who were approachable and signed autographs. Barron vividly described a player who had gone out to buy a loaf of bread but returned with the bread signed by the footballers. The Sporting team trained on a nearby school field, attracting more children eager to get close to the professionals. Sunderland won the first leg 2-1 but were defeated 2-0 in Lisbon, ending their European run on November 7, 1973.
That era feels distant, with Sunderland now preparing to write a new chapter in their European history. The Stadium of Light, built in 1996-97 with a then-capacity of 42,000 and UEFA Category Four status, was not initially constructed with European matches in mind, according to club chairman Sir Bob Murray. Nevertheless, he ensured the stadium was equipped for international fixtures, anticipating such opportunities. The venue also hosts the Foundation of Light charity and the Beacon of Light facility, which provides educational and recreational services to the local community.
AZ Alkmaar arrive in Sunderland as second-place holders in the Dutch Eredivisie. Fans’ arrival will be marked by a procession across the River Wear on the Keel Crossing footbridge, which will close briefly for the event. The club has promised a pre-match show described as unprecedented in Sunderland’s history.
Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka, who joined the club from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, admitted that European qualification was not an expectation at the time, with the primary goal being Premier League survival. However, he acknowledged a growing sense of possibility as the season progressed. Sunderland secured their European spot on the final day of the season with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea, finishing seventh in the league.
Xhaka emphasized the significance of the achievement for the club and its supporters, noting the hard work put in by the players. “You can start to feel the excitement from the people. I think that for the game the stadium will be on fire,” he said ahead of the match, highlighting the importance of this historic return to continental competition.