The former Sunderland man has been handed a job by Premier League outfit Newcastle United.

Sunderland’s rivalry with noisy-neighbours Newcastle United has certainly stood the test of time, and despite the several years of the two sides being apart in relation to leagues, there is still plenty of bad blood between the two sides.

Despite such a bitter rivalry dividing the two sides, many players have featured for both the north-east giants, from Patrick Van Aanholt to Shay Given.

In particular, Sunderland’s 2013/14 side had many faces that played both for the Black Cats, and at another point in their career featured for Newcastle United.

The likes of midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng and Jack Colback started in the 3-0 away win at St James’ Park, and both would go on to join the Magpies later on in their career.

The midfield pair were joined in the clash against Newcastle United by Liam Bridcutt playing as a holding-midfielder, who featured for the Black Cats for his debut.

Bridcutt, alongside Ki and Colback, has also followed the path north and has controversially taken up a new coaching role at Newcastle United.

Former Sunderland midfielder Liam Bridcutt takes up Newcastle United coaching role

Recently-retired Bridcutt managed 36 appearances for Sunderland following his arrival from Brighton for £3million.

Gus Poyet brought the midfielder in, however his involvement across two seasons at the club was somewhat limited before he moved to Championship outfit Leeds United.

Fast forward nine years after his departure from Wearside, he has returned north to Newcastle United, where he, according to the club website, has ‘joined the Academy team, arriving as a sessional coach’.

It will be Bridcutt’s first involvement in coaching since the 35-year-old’s retirement following the 2022/23 campaign, which he spent with Blackpool. 

Liam Bridcutt’s legacy as a Sunderland player

Bridcutt certainly arrived at the Stadium of Light with plenty of promise, especially after performing well at a young age for then-Championship side Brighton, and this certainly looked to be the case following his debut in a 3-0 victory in the Premier League against Newcastle United.

However, the Black Cats midfielder’s career wasn’t quite able to extend beyond this point, with Sunderland being the only one of the Premier League clubs out of his ten clubs that he played at senior level with.

Following the victory at Newcastle, he didn’t manage another start for the next eight starts in the 2013/14 campaign, with Sunderland appearances improving without the midfielder.

He was unable to stake a claim for a regular spot in the side in the 2014/15 Premier League season, starting just 10 of the 38 games for Sunderland.