After a summer long pursuit for a left back, Sunderland had secured the signature of 21 year old Spurs youngster Dennis Cirkin – and just days after signing, he was thrown into the first team to make his debut, on this day five years ago.
It had long looked like Sunderland would sign the Liverpool left back Tony Gallacher, however the club pulled out of the deal when Cirkin became available.
After joining Sunderland, Cirkin said:
I’m delighted to be here. As soon as I got interest from Sunderland, it was a no-brainer – the fans, the stadium, the history – and I just thought the club was perfect for me. I feel like the Head Coach has a very good track record with young players and I feel like this is a place that I can progress and develop in my career.
Manager Lee Johnson, who was beginning his first full season at the club, said:
To get a player of Dennis’ quality at 19 speaks wonders in terms of what we’re trying to do because he is a top talent and he’s very highly regarded within the game. We have been really happy with the signings we have made so far and we will bank this one, but we will continue our work quietly and efficiently to try and get a couple more over the line.
It was the first summer under Kyril Louis Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman, and while there was a desire for a shake up of the playing squad, we needed to get used to the club biding their time, waiting for the right targets to become available – and being comfortable with that.
An illustration of the belief Sunderland had in Cirkin – and the fact we had started the season with Dan Neil at left back – came as Lee Jonhson’s put him straight into the team to face MK Dons, looking to build on the opening day win over Wigan.
Not only was this Cirkin’s Sunderland debut, it was his first pro game, too. He had recently recovered from a bout of Covid, which had given Johnson pause for thought, but Cirkin and the manager both felt he was physically well enough to be thrown in – replacing the ill Luke O’Nien in the line up, freeing Dan Neil to move back into midfield, and Carl Winchester playing right back.
The game itself – incidentally Liam Manning’s first game in charge of MK Dons – was relatively routine. We scored either side of half-time through Ross Stewart and Elliot Embleton, before Troy Parrott pulled one back.
Lynden Gooch had a late penalty saved, but despite the tight scoreline it was a deserved and relatively routine win – and finally Sunderland had found a solution to what had been a problem position at left back.
Cirkin – who had been withdrawn towards the end of the game as fatigue took its toll – but had made a very good first impression with some impressive dribbling and willingness to attack, combined with good ball retention and defensive nous.
Those were attributes we all grew to know and love, as Cirkin went on to be a pivotal part of the Sunderland side that eventually got the club back to the Premier League. We know all about the personal troubles he was dealing with when he arrived at the club. He was key to Sunderland’s rebuild, and hopefully we played our part in his own, too.
He left us with some great memories – that double at West Brom being a stand out for me – and while injuries stifled his progress in some respects, we saw the evident quality on display in Premier League outings last season – and I for one firmly believe he’d have established himself as Reinildo’s understudy – and would have ended up taking his place in the team – had he stuck around.
It wasn’t to be. It’s a real shame he’s left the club – and I’m sure we all wish him the very best of luck as he restarts his career at QPR.
Dennis Cirkin (2021-2026)
Appearances 126
Goals 8