Could Premier League Promotion Finally Complete Regis Le Bris’ Redemption Story?

Regis Le Bris has taken the Championship by storm in his first season. By adding his flair into the division, he has soon shot Sunderland up from 16th to fourth with a playoff final looming. However, one thing that flys severely under the radar is the fact that the Frenchman was appointed on the rebound of his relegation departure with Lorient.

The heartache of relegation is a very powerful obstacle to overcome for someone who is fairly new to senior management. But just one year on, the same man is on the brink of achieving promotion at Wembley Stadium into the one of the most prestigious competitions in football – the Premier League.

Relegation Blow

After marinating his managerial career with Lorient B for seven years, a 46-year-old Regis Le Bris stepped up to senior management with confidence when he was appointed to Lorient’s first team. The hard work payed off initially, as the Hakes finished in 10th spot with conviction in Le Bris’ first season in charge. The debutant manager collected a 39% win rate in that season, winning 15 Ligue 1 games out of a possible 38 – a successful year by Lorient’s standards.

Régis Le Bris is the new manager of Lorient. pic.twitter.com/wLoxtOgXxe

— Football24/7 (@foet247europa) July 1, 2022

However, the season following was where Le Bris and Lorient’s comfortable cruising unravelled into panic and distress. A shoddy first half of the season saw the Tango and Black’s pick up just one win in Ligue 1 between August and February. A run which ultimately secured Lorient’s fate. Despite finishing with improved form, Le Bris’ men ended the season with just seven wins and a relegation back to Ligue 2, after fours years away.

Although, the demotion was not the only climax of the season. Just a month after the campaign’s closure and a year after he had signed a four-year contract, Le Bris left Lorient by mutual consent to end his two-year stay as manager. As the Frenchman had only just kickstarted a hopeful journey in professional management, a shock to the system like this needed to fuel salvation in another role.

🔴⚪️🤝🏻 French manager Régis Le Bris has just been appointed as new Sunderland manager, deal done.

Agreement also with Lorient over compensation fee and deal in place.

Le Bris will be new #SAFC manager. pic.twitter.com/UnhaWSGs79

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 21, 2024

A Fresh Start

After months of a messy managerial saga in the North East following Michael Beale’s dismissal from Sunderland, Regis Le Bris was announced as the new boss last summer. Whilst you would think a touch of clarity would be appreciated for a club that had suffered a pretty dismal season, the general consensus floating around Wearside was that the Frenchman’s arrival was nothing short of underwhelming.

Well that is a ballsy appointment from #safc.

Nothing on @FCLorient boss Regis Le Bris' CV screams Championship job but underlying metrics are apparently good & has solid coaching credentials.

They're certainly not afraid of rolling the dice, are they?!

— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) June 21, 2024

However, it is a good job that Le Bris joined the Black Cats with something to prove. His ambitious attack on the season won all Mackems’ approval immediately, as the manager won the Championship Manager of the Month award for August. He won all of his opening five league matches in England, soaring Sunderland towards a promotion spectacle.

His spectacular management of what is a youthful, exciting squad has kept Sunderland’s promotion desires afloat in the Championship this term. Following on from a terrific opening month, the Black Cats went on to finish the season in fourth, with 21 wins and 76 points. Despite a splash of complacency towards the tail end, Regis Le Bris’ outfit have a huge opportunity to make all dreams become reality in the playoffs.

One Game Away

Another stellar set of Championship Playoff semi-finals saw Sunderland emerge victorious against Coventry City last week. Despite their controlled 2-1 first leg performance at the CBS Arena, the second leg was certainly not easy, as the Sky Blues levelled the tie late on to take it to extra time. However, a triumphant header from Dan Ballard in the dying embers of extra time sent all Sunderland fans booking their tickets for Wembley.

It's all getting very real now. #TilTheEnd

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 21, 2025

Tomorrow is the day that those tickets clock through the Wembley turnstiles. The Championship playoff final – also known as the richest match in football. The Black Cats will take on powerhouse Sheffield United for one of football’s greatest prizes. There is no better opportunity than tomorrow for Sunderland to reach Premier League heights again. Furthermore, achieving the result they are anticipating would be the light at the end of the tunnel for what has been an extremely difficult eight years in the red and white.

After back-to-back relegations, to then enduring four years of a League One football and two failed playoff campaigns – this match may finally put Sunderland back to where they belong.