Live

Highlights on Off The Ball

07:00 AM-01:00 PM

Highlights on Off The Ball
Advertisement
Soccer

"Jose Mourinho just started laughing" - Gary Breen recalls Sunderland woe

Although he has yet taken the time to sit down and watch Sunderland 'Till I Die, Gary Breen is a...



Soccer

"Jose Mourinho just started laughing" - Gary Breen recalls Sunderland woe

Although he has yet taken the time to sit down and watch Sunderland 'Till I Die, Gary Breen is all too aware of the contrasting fortunes of the northerly English club in question.

Signed by Mick McCarthy on a free transfer in 2003, Sunderland gained promotion from the Championship at the second time of asking in 2005. However, speaking of his three-year-spell with the club on OTB AM this morning, Breen's memories of life on Wearside are mixed, to say the least.

"My experience of [Sunderland] was a great time, coupled with a really bad time," Breen explained.

"Mick McCarthy overachieved in terms of getting us back in the Premier League and then was hung out to dry."

Sunderland

After gaining promotion in such spectacular fashion, Sunderland were quickly relegated again; winning only three games in a season that saw the club finish rock-bottom with 15-points.

According to Breen, a distinct unwillingness on the club's behalf to back support the manager financially undid the good work of the season before.

"We had £3 million to spend on players, and that included their wages," Breen explained.

Recalling a particularly galling exchange between McCarthy and Chelsea's manager at the time, the plight of the two former Irish internationals was clear.

"I remember a story from when we played Chelsea early on in that season," Breen began.

"Mick McCarthy was telling that [he only had £3 million] to Jose Mourinho, and he started bursting out laughing.

"He said it was ridiculous.

"All the feel-good factor that came as a result of winning the Championship as we did went out the window."

Simon Grayson, the beleaguered man in charge of Sunderland as the recent documentary begins, recalled on yesterdays' Keith Andrews Show how a similar reluctance to spend money ultimately cost the club dearly in the long-run.

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Gary Breen Mick McCarthy Premier League Sunderland Sunderland Till I Die