Sunderland End 53-Year European Wait With Historic Europa League Win Over AZ Alkmaar

Sunderland’s long wait for European football ended in victory as Enzo Le Fée’s penalty secured a 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar at the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats had not played a European fixture since November 1973, making Wednesday night’s Europa League opener a landmark occasion before a ball was kicked. Almost 53 years after their previous continental appearance, Sunderland returned by taking all three points against the Dutch side.

Enzo Le Fée penalty seals Sunderland win

The decisive moment arrived in the second half when Sunderland were awarded a penalty and Le Fée converted from the spot. It proved enough for Régis Le Bris’s team to open the league phase with a victory and give the home crowd the result the occasion demanded.

The win was particularly significant because AZ arrived on Wearside as Eredivisie leaders. Sunderland therefore did more than simply celebrate their return to Europe: they beat an in-form opponent with extensive recent experience in UEFA competition.

Why Sunderland’s European return is historic

Sunderland’s previous European campaign came in the 1973-74 Cup Winners’ Cup, earned after their famous FA Cup triumph in 1973. Their last continental match before facing AZ was in November 1973.

That gap of almost 53 years makes this one of the longest waits between European appearances by a club. It also underlines how dramatically Sunderland’s trajectory has changed after years that included relegations, League One football and a long fight to rebuild their place in the English game.

Now back in the Premier League and competing in the Europa League, Sunderland have immediately given supporters another major night to remember.

Sunderland’s Europa League campaign starts perfectly

The new league-phase format means every result can have a significant effect on qualification, and three points from the opening fixture gives Sunderland an ideal platform.

Their European schedule will become increasingly demanding, with AC Milan among the major opponents still to come. Balancing those fixtures with Premier League commitments will test Le Bris’s squad, but the opening result removes any suggestion that Sunderland are simply in the competition to enjoy the experience.

Captain Granit Xhaka has already spoken about the possibility of Sunderland dreaming big in the tournament. One victory does not make a European run, but beating AZ provides immediate evidence that the Black Cats can compete at this level.

What comes next for Sunderland?

Sunderland now return their attention to domestic football before the Europa League league phase continues. The challenge will be maintaining their intensity across multiple competitions without allowing the extra workload to damage their Premier League campaign.

For one night, though, the wider picture could wait. A club that had spent nearly 53 years away from European competition returned under the Stadium of Light floodlights and won.

Le Fée’s penalty will go into Sunderland history as the goal that completed a successful European comeback — and gave the Black Cats a perfect start to their 2026-27 Europa League campaign.