Luke O’Nien has reflected on the conversation that changed everything after a difficult Sunderland debut
Luke O’Nien has revealed Sunderland already had an “exit route planned” for him after his difficult debut against Charlton Athletic – before he fought back to become one of the club’s most influential modern figures.
O’Nien’s Sunderland career could hardly have started in tougher fashion. Signed from Wycombe Wanderers in 2018, he was handed his debut in the League One opener against Charlton at the Stadium of Light, only to be withdrawn at half-time after a difficult first 45 minutes. At that stage, few could have imagined what would follow. O’Nien has since become one of the defining figures of Sunderland’s rise, playing his part in the club’s climb from League One to the Premier League and now into Europe.
Asked whether he could ever have imagined that journey after being taken off at half-time on his debut, O’Nien said: “They had my exit route planned, everyone did, even I did. And then I just had a chat with my dad, and I was just like, Dad, I’m going to make it happen here. I don’t know how, but if you just keep working hard, keep looking for the right answers, you’ll eventually find them.
“That’s why I’m going to tell my kids, my dad always said, if you work as hard as you can, you’re never guaranteed success, but I’ll guarantee you, I’ll give you your best shot. That’s the methodology that, every single day, I apply to everything I do. I’m going to make sure my kids adopt that as well, just be good humans, and keep trying to be better, and so far so good.”
O’Nien’s rise has been built on that attitude. He has played in midfield, at full-back and in central defence, becoming a constant through several different Sunderland teams, managers and eras. His connection with supporters has also been shaped by the qualities he mentioned – effort, resilience and a willingness to embrace the demands of the club.
Put to him that he had almost described Sunderland’s working-class identity and the importance placed on hard work, O’Nien added: “It’s probably the reason why we clicked. “I think when I realised they celebrate tackles here, I went, oh, I’ve got a chance here. I don’t score many goals, but I got my Premier League assist today. That was incredible, who would have thought, me flicking it on to Trai. I’ve been learning from Brian Brobbey every day so yeah, number nine duties next year.”
O’Nien’s Sunderland career has already taken in almost every emotion possible. Signed eight years ago, he was part of the League One years, the Wembley heartbreaks, the eventual promotion under Alex Neil and then the play-off final triumph that carried the Black Cats back to the Premier League. Across more than 300 Sunderland appearances, he has become one of the club’s great modern success stories – a player who has had to adapt, scrap, improve and prove himself at every level. Now, after starting in League One, he can call himself a Premier League player and a European player.
