6. Chris Maguire
Who else but Maguire? So this is a lofty accolade considering he’s only been here six months, but when the time comes for us to look back on the Stewart Donald era, this cheeky little Scot will be the first face many of us remember.
Talented, aggressive, passionate and the biggest wind-up merchant we’ve had at the club for a long, long time - the former Sheffield Wednesday forward has not only won two goal of the month awards following his screamers against Burton Albion and Southend, but he’s also captured the hearts and imagination of the whole of Wearside. He’s the first real cult hero we’ve had in some time.
Not many players get called ‘The King’ only months into their Sunderland career, but he’s left such an impression that people are loving the hero worship they bestow upon him.
5. Kieron Brady
He only appeared for the Lads a total of 40 times, but golly - he was bloody talented!
Whenever you hear the name Kieron Brady, you instantly remember his utter masterclass of a performance against West Ham back in 1990. He was simply unplayable as we overcame the Hammers 4-3, with the Scottish teenager notching an overhead kick, two assists and a man of the match award.
His career was sadly cut short by injury, but Brady is still fondly remembered as one of the most individually talented players to ever wear the red and white shirt.
4. John MacPhail
Signed by Denis Smith way back in the summer of 1987, the big defender from Dundee captained the Lads to two promotions during his time at the club - and all for a transfer fee equivalent to the price of a copy of the Beano and a banana. What a bargain.
Part of the original revolution under Smith, the defender hit a remarkable 16 goals from defence in his first season as we stormed to promotion as Division Three champions.
Although he left for Hartlepool in 1990, playing only one top flight game for the club, he is remembered fondly as player who was the perfect foil for his defensive partner Gary Bennett, and one of coolest penalty takers Roker Park ever saw.
3. Alex Rae
Who doesn’t love Alex Rae?
Signed from MIllwall in 1996 as our first ever £1m player, the all-action Scotsman played alongside the likes of Kevin Ball, Stefan Schwarz and Lee Clark in our midfield for the next four seasons and incorporated everything Sunderland fans love to see from a player.
Rae helped us to a seventh place finish in the Premier League, a record breaking promotion and a two memorable wins at St. James, and was rightly rallied around by the entire fan-base during the well-publicised personal issues he suffered in the middle of his third year on Wearside.
He was gutsy, passionate, had a fantastic passing range and loved getting stuck into the opposition - he knew where the net was too. A real Sunderland cult hero.
2. Allan Johnston
Affectionately named ‘Magic’ due to his mesmerising footwork, the player signed from Rennes in 1997 was another Glaswegian who was adored by the Wearside faithful.
Despite favouring his right foot, Johno’s Sunderland career really took off when he was switched to the opposite flank to accommodate the incoming Nicky Summerbee a quarter of the way through the 97/98 season.
It would be a switch that would help reignite a stuttering season as the number eleven built up a telepathic partnership with Micky Gray on the left hand side, a duo that all other Division One sides simply couldn’t handle.
A few hat tricks, a gazillion assists and a record breaking promotion- Magic is fondly remembered as one of Sunderland’s most loved Scottish players.
1. Bobby Kerr
Who else?
The Little General signed professional terms at Roker Park when he was just 17-years-old and even the most optimistic Scot in the world could not have envisioned just how much a hero he would become to the people of Wearside.
Sixth in the list of all-time appearance makers, his wonderfully mustached face still adorns the walls of the Stadium of Light tunnel as he was of course the captain of the famous 1973 FA Cup winning team.
Whilst it’s easy to get lost in memories of Montgomery’s miracle save or Ian Porterfield’s famous winner, it was Kerr’s drive and will in the centre of the park that struck a note with the Roker faithful, personifying the momentum that a Cup run can build by instigating attacks with perfectly timed tackles and passes.
Bobby Kerr will likely always remain as Sunderland’s most loved Scottish player.