Ranking Sunderland's Premier League Managers As Players - Worst To Best

2. Martin O'Neill

Martin O'Neill was always destined to become the Sunderland manager, though when his time arrived, his style sadly didn't fit with the modern world. He was, and will remain, a good guy of football, and his counter-attacking style worked wonders at first, but ultimately he couldn't cope with the changing Premier League by the time of his departure. His time as a player saw some spectacular honours though, back in Nottingham Forest's glory years. O'Neill won a First Division title and League Cup under the legendary Brian Clough, but his crowning glories came in 1979 and 1980 when Forest won the European Cup (Champions League) in consecutive years. O'Neill was benched for the first after just coming back from injury, but played in the second triumph.