List of Sunderland A.F.C. players

This is a list of notable footballers who have played for Sunderland from when the club turned professional in 1879 to the present. Generally, this means all players that have played 100 or more first-class matches for the club. However, some players who have played fewer matches are also included. This includes those who have represented their country whilst playing for the club, and players who have set a club playing record, such as goalscoring or transfer fee records.

For a list of all Sunderland A.F.C. players, major or minor, with a Wikipedia article, see Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players, and for the current first-team squad, see Sunderland A.F.C.#Current squad.

Players are listed according to the date of their first-team debut for the club. Appearances are for first-team competitive matches only, including substitute appearances, while wartime and local cup matches are excluded. Players who captained the club for 10 or more games during a season are included.

Notable players

  Club captains who have won a major senior competition (competitions noted in notes section).

  Players who represented their country while at the club.

  Club record holder.

Name	Nationality	Position	Sunderland A.F.C. career	Captaincy	Appearances	Goals	Notes
Ned Doig	ScotlandScotland	Goalkeeper	1890–1904		417	0
Alf Common	EnglandEngland	Forward	1900–1901 1904–1905		43	12
Charlie Buchan	EnglandEngland	Forward	1911–1925		370	209
Dave Halliday	ScotlandScotland	Forward	1925–1929		175	162
Bobby Gurney	EnglandEngland	Forward	1925–1950		338	228
Raich Carter	EnglandEngland	Inside forward	1932–1939		276	127
Johnny Mapson	EnglandEngland	Goalkeeer	1935–1954		382	0
Willie Watson	EnglandEngland	Defender	1946–1954		223	16
Len Shackleton	EnglandEngland	Midfielder	1948–1957		348	101
Trevor Ford	WalesWales	Forward	1950–1957		117	70
Billy Bingham	Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland	Midfielder	1950–1958		227	47
Stan Anderson	EnglandEngland	Defender	1952–1964		447	35
Charlie Hurley	IrelandIreland	Defender	1957–1969		358	23
Len Ashurst	EnglandEngland	Defender	1957–1971		452	4
Jimmy Montgomery	EnglandEngland	Goalkeeper	1960–1977		623	0
Brian Clough	EnglandEngland	Forward	1961–1964		61	54
Ian Porterfield	EnglandEngland	Midfielder	1967–1977		229	17
David Watson	EnglandEngland	Defender	1970–1975		177	27
Gary Rowell	EnglandEngland	Forward	1972–1984		293	102
Bryan Robson	EnglandEngland	Forward	1974–1976 1979 1983–1984		164	67
Barry Venison	EnglandEngland	Defender	1981–1986		173	2
Paul Bracewell	EnglandEngland	Midfielder	1983–1984 1989–1992 1995–1997		227	6
Eric Gates	EnglandEngland	Forward	1984–1990		181	43
Marco Gabbiadini	EnglandEngland	Forward	1987–1991		157	74
Colin Pascoe	WalesWales	Midfielder	1967–1977		116	22
Kevin Ball	EnglandEngland	Defender	1990–1999		340	21
Michael Gray	EnglandEngland	Defender	1992–2004		363	16
Alex Rae	ScotlandScotland	Midfielder	1996–2001		114	12
Niall Quinn	IrelandIreland	Forward	1996–2002		203	91
Kevin Phillips	EnglandEngland	Forward	1992–2004		209	115
Thomas Sørensen	DenmarkDenmark	Goalkeeper	1998–2003		171	0
Julio Arca	ArgentinaArgentina	Midfielder	2000–2006		157	17
Tore André Flo	NorwayNorway	Forward	2002–2003		29	4
Marcus Stewart	EnglandEngland	Midfielder	2002–2005		102	31
Mart Poom	EstoniaEstonia	Goalkeeper	2003–2006		58	1
Danny Collins	WalesWales	Defender	2004–		96	2
Dean Whitehead	EnglandEngland	Midfielder	2004–		146	13
Craig Gordon	ScotlandScotland	Goalkeeper	2002–2005		34	0