NIALL QUINN: HOW SUNDERLAND BECAME THE LOVE OF MY LIFE

Signed August 1996 from Manchester City for a club record £1.3million He bought a controlling stake in the club in summer 2006 and took over as manager following relegation to the Championship. After a handful of games, he decided to step aside and appointed Roy Keane as manager. Quinn remained as chairman until late 2011 when he was replaced by Ellis Short. They got promoted under Keane in his first season and remained in the top flight during Quinn’s time. “I learned my trade at Arsenal, became a footballer at Manchester City, but Sunderland got under my skin. I love Sunderland.” – From Quinn’s autobiography