Patrick Roberts delivers honest verdict on Kristjaan Speakman’s impact at Sunderland after departure
Patrick Roberts delivers honest verdict on Kristjaan Speakman’s impact at Sunderland after departure.
Patrick Roberts has given his honest opinion on Kristjaan Speakman following his departure from Sunderland earlier this month.
Patrick Roberts has paid tribute to retiring sports director Kristjaan Speakman, describing him as a key element in Sunderland’s return to the Premier League at one of the club’s most pivotal moments in recent history.
Roberts joined Sunderland in January 2022, signing a six-month contract with the option to extend.
Within weeks, he had scored his first goal in a 2-0 victory over Crewe Alexandra, before scoring the winner in the second leg of the play-off semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday in May, taking Sunderland to Wembley and putting them on track for promotion.
He went on to sign a new two-year contract that summer when Sunderland won the Championship through the play-offs, signalling the beginning of a four-year period marked by resurgence and silverware.
During that time, the club won two promotions and three matches at Wembley Stadium, with Roberts playing a key role in some of the most important moments.
He assisted Eliezer Mayenda’s equaliser before Tommy Watson scored the winner against Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium, securing Sunderland’s return to the top division under Régis Le Bris and instilling his name in folklore.
Speakman left Sunderland earlier this month after supervising the change, while Roberts moved to Birmingham City on a permanent basis the month before, following an initial loan agreement.
Speakman was appointed in December 2020 and oversaw a complete overhaul of the club’s football operations, altering recruitment strategy and performance infrastructure while regaining competitive momentum.
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During his tenure, Sunderland won three games at Wembley Stadium, including their first success there since 1973, and they also won two play-off finals.
With Premier League membership restored and a strengthened football leadership structure in place, Sunderland decided to continue the trip without him, with Florent Ghisolfi now in charge of the sporting plan, having taken over all football operations in July of last year.
Speaking exclusively to The Echo, Roberts pondered on Speakman’s effect during that time. “Obviously, he was there the day I came in,” Roberts remarked.
“It’s fair to say the majority of it was great, but he had a few rough patches, and it’s a difficult position to be in – being the head of recruitment and overseeing how the football club operates.
“I believe he has done an excellent job in that regard, and he has contributed significantly to the club’s current success. “Going in, I could see the vision he had for the owner and how they wanted to move up the leagues.
I was really happy to be a part of it. They rewarded me by keeping me on, and I was able to contribute significantly to the achievement of the goal.
“He deserved a lot of credit. He has played an important role in Sunderland’s promotion through the leagues in recent years, and I’m sure many fans will be appreciative. But the truth of football is that people move on – which is bad.”
Roberts also explained what happened behind the scenes as Sunderland transitioned from a League One team to a Premier League club. “I think it was the right recruitment,” said the candidate.
“Sometimes you get it wrong, sometimes you hit the mark. The board, the owners, Kristjaan, the manager, and the players were all determined to advance through the leagues, because the players had to play on the pitch at some point.
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