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

1. Roy Keane

While there are more technical players on the list, none can boast playing honours quite like Roy Keane. As Sunderland manager he was typically outspoken, determined and ferocious, and came into the team at exactly the right time. He ran riot in the Championship and though he faltered under the quality of the Premier League, he was the perfect manager to bring feel-good vibes back to the club, and is largely responsible for raising Sunderland up from it's knees and into the Premier League for an extended spell. He won the Championship title as Sunderland manager, but while playing with Manchester United, he was part of a truly special outfit that dominated domestic football and beyond. In his first decade with United, he won seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups, four Community Shields, and an Intercontinental Cup as well as a spectacular Champions League trophy. If that wasn't enough, Keane won the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Cup with Celtic during a year-long cameo, though we all know that his career highlight was punching Alan Shearer square in the face for United. If that doesn't earn him the title of Sunderland's greatest managerial playing career, as well as keys to the city, nothing will.