Regis Le Bris has finally ended Sunderland’s search for a new manager.
The French head coach was named as Michael Beale’s permanent successor at Sunderland this weekend, having been relegated with FC Lorient last season.
Le Bris had initially enjoyed a strong start to his managerial career though, having worked with the academy since 2012.
He brought the likes of Matteo Guendouzi and Mario Lemina through the youth ranks, before earning himself the manager role for the senior team.
Le Bris guided them to a tenth place finish in his first season – their highest position since the 2013/14 campaign. However, things quickly turned sour and he finished the 2023/24 term with 29 points.
The 48-year-old will now look to impress in the Championship, with The Sun reporting last summer that Leeds United were interested in him.
Le Bris’ first challenge will be to help bring in some players to guide Sunderland to a play-off spot, though it remains unclear how much contribution Kristjaan Speakman will allow him to have in the transfer window.
If he is allowed to bring in some of his own players, he could look back to Lorient to strengthen his new squad.
Three players Le Bris could sign for Sunderland
Romain Faivre
Le Bris signed Faivre on loan from Lyon in January 2023, where he went onto bag eight goal contributions in the final 16 matches of the season.
Bournemouth then snapped the midfielder up for £12.8 million, before loaning him back out to the French outfit.
Faivre went onto score another five goals for Lorient before he was recalled by the Cherries, but only managed five appearances from the bench in the Premier League.
Le Bris is clearly a huge fan of the Frenchman and could look to make a huge signing in bringing him to the Stadium of Light on loan this summer.
Theo Le Bris
Le Bris’ nephew, Theo, came up through the Lorient academy and enjoyed his breakthrough campaign with the senior team during Regis’ first season in charge.
The 21-year-old has now racked up 59 appearances for Lorient, making 15 starts last term.
The Sunderland coach likes to play with wing-backs, and so that is where Le Bris has been deployed in Ligue 1. However, the youngster is also able to play right-back and central midfield.
Pablo Pagis
Pagis joined Lorient’s academy in 2018 and played under Le Bris for the second team, netting 10 goals in 23 games during the 2021-22 season.
He was then brought up to the senior squad last season, but made only three appearances before he was loaned out to Ligue 2 side Stade Laval.
The striker made 13 starts and netted four goals, including the winner against Bordeaux in April.
Pagis was hailed by the Laval fans and was urged to play like Antoine Griezmann before scoring his fourth of the campaign, narrowly missing out on a play-off spot.
Lorient could look to make use of the 21-year-old’s talents after they were relegated, but he could also be tempted by a reunion with Le Bris in the Championship.