Regis Le Bris gives his first interview since becoming new Sunderland manager

Regis Le Bris gives his first interview since becoming the new manager of Sunderland after what was a very long search.

He officially begins his time on Monday (1st July), after spending the last few weeks getting used to his surroundings and working hard preparing for the forthcoming season, in a hope that he can give the club a lift, an improved finish from last season after finish 16th in the Championship table, and just six points above the drop zone.

The 48 year old Frenchman spoke of his excitement, how it felt to be at the club, why Sunderland is the right club for him, what he knew and what his plans were, among many other things. Why not what the full interview below…

Interviewer: How does it feel to be here?

Regis Le Bris: It’s a great moment for me because I discover a big stadium with an identity which is very very strong and the fans are very proud of uh the team and for me I can feel the energy in this stadium

Interviewer: How excited are you to be taking on this role at Sunderland AFC?

Le Bris: For me it’s a great opportunity in my in my career because I always trained in France with the Youth Academy at the beginning and then with the professional team at Lorient, and I thought that it was the great moment to move and two years ago, I started to learn English because I had that idea in my mind that I wanted to to move abroad and I thought that England was the best way to go forward and now I’m very happy to be here

Interviewer: What is it about England, English football that made you want to come over here?

Le Bris: The football was born here so the passion is so impressive about the football and the intensity the quality of the players the the size of the clubs it’s very impressive

Interviewer: And why is Sunderland the right club?

Le Bris: Sunderland is a club which is quite different from many others it’s a great history um a community with very linked with this club and we can feel the energy and the the passion around this club and for sure they want to be higher but also the foundation are very strong and I believe that we can perform very well to achieve the expectations of the fans

Interviewer: What do you know about the club already, what do you know about the city?

Le Bris: Of course as many fans I think I saw the the series on Netflix, but also I coach before some players who played here, as M’Vila for example or other players, and it was obviously a very huge curiosity to understand who you are because the history is very strong, I need to learn, I need to understand who you are and for sure it will give me some elements to train the team and to explain them how we want to play

Interviewer: You mentioned the players that you coached who had an affection to this football club I think Vito Mannone was another one yes you met with Rob Mason yesterday as well yes two big Sunderland fans there two big Sunderland fans what have they told you about the club

Le Bris: He explained many details I forgot everything I because it was so precise I think so I can I can understand that the foundations of the of the club is very strong and it’s all about the history but also about the future so we need to link together these two ideas and to build the future and Vito liked this club he told me that it was a great club and he loved playing here so I’m sure I will enjoy it to be here with the player with the fans here at the club

Interviewer: You spent some time with the fans before you came over here today meeting them in the new stadium store, nice to be able to go and meet them face to face and hear from them directly about their football club

Le Bris: I can feel their their expectations and energy willingness intensity and support also I had maybe 30 minutes with them uh and uh I can I could feel this energy really

Interviewer: You also met some of the players this morning coming back into the building an exciting time the start of pre-season tell us how you view the group?

Le Bris: I think that this group have a huge quality already, I studied many games of course before coming here and they were able to perform very well and the struggle also so now we need to find some strong foundations to and we need to build it during the pre-season and because the Championship is very hard very tough league we need to be consistent all the time and this is the main purpose

Interviewer: What type of what type of coach are you what are you like in the dressing room what are you like on the training pitch?

Le Bris: I like the game, really, I like to understand the game, I like to develop players, I like to develop the team and I like to share my ideas with the players, and when we are linked both the game with the game we can build many improvements and of course, we need also to create an atmosphere to improve and this these two ideas are for me the main ideas

Interviewer: And what are your hopes for the upcoming season?

Le Bris: I hope that we will link to our identity very quickly and for sure, with the quality of the players with the foundation of the club, with the energy of the fans, we will perform very well, obviously there are still an opponent and the game is always unpredictable but if we perform with our identity and our talented player for sure we will perform well.

You can read more about him and his appointment by tapping HERE.

Here’s how fans reacted as Regis Le Bris gives his first interview since becoming the new Sunderland manager…

@Keiith_C_1971: Comes across well, hopefully the club will back him and address the shortcomings of the squad. bonne chance, bonny mon garçon

@ste_lew1s: Get in Reggie the bizz man! ❤️

@Sunlundy: Speaks well. Looking forward to see how he sets us up.

@AdamSAFC29: Lovely bloke is Reg

@mw_cable: Good luck Regis !!! 😍

@dungra: Nice guy but worrying he is spinning the KLD/Speakman narrative…”great foundations” “quality players”…we finished 16th & the squad needs massive overhaul this summer..clear it’s not happening & that’s why he was appointed

@Michael__Bird_: Name dropping Yann, bring him home! #CansforYann

@RamseySAFC: Great first interview. The main thing I take away from this is that his English is very good. Going to be a massive positive that he can speak French and English. #SAFC

@juliesund: Great interview. Fills you with enthusiasm listening to him … as if I don’t already have plenty of that 😆👌🏽

@PaddyHollis123: Well I’m sold, up the French wizards 🇫🇷 #SAFC

@Wearside1973: I think he has came across very well! Seems to be a calm and measured type of character. Excited for the future! 🔴⚪️

@joel_gradwell: I was sold the second I heard the accent tbf.

@_RGRZ: Came across very well. I like him a lot

@S4fcNi4ll: After watching the video I now think we will get promoted #SAFC

@AG17__: the delusion has kicked in and we are winning the league by february

@_JakeC91: Bienvenu Régis Le Bris.

@TheShipyardCat: Here is the main man himself! #SAFC

@Bairdy26: Winning the league

@DaveyPalmer1: Hopefully Regis Le Bris can mould a winning team at @SunderlandAFC as another season like last time around simply wasn’t good enough. He speaks well though so good luck to him #SAFC #Sunderland

@mattsmith2707:This geezer is getting up promoted 🔴⚪️ #SAFC

@Adamdoran97: la Révolution française 🔵⚪️🔴 #safc

@RamseySAFC: Great first interview. The main thing I take away from this is that his English is very good. Going to be a massive positive that he can speak French and English. #SAFC

@TopTechTony: #safc after hearing Le Bris speak for 5 mins I can confidently say we gana win the league 🔴⚪️

I have a really good feeling about him https://t.co/j6MZho1yvU pic.twitter.com/0V6HnRHMWu

— Milly (@millyfinx) June 30, 2024