There has never been a worse time to be a Sunderland fan. The Black Cats have suffered back-to-back relegations and when next season starts, the club will be playing in the League One. It is important for Sunderland to start rebuilding their squad if they are to reclaim their past glory as Premier League mainstays. According to Chronicle Live, Sunderland have signed Glenn Loovens on a free transfer.
Loovens has joined on a two-year deal after seeing out his contract at Sheffield Wednesday and is Sunderland’s seventh signing this summer. The former Sheffield captain is a leader on and off the pitch, who has a calming influence in the dressing room.
At 34, Loovens is beyond his peak and won’t have the pace to burn but he reads the game well. His strong aerial presence and hard tackling style of play make him a reliable option for Ross. A fan favourite, Loovens is somewhat a cult hero at both Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday.
Capped twice by the Netherlands, Loovens made his breakthrough at Feyenoord at the turn of the century, alongside Robin van Persie and Said Boutahar. He served loan spells at Excelsior and De Graafschap, following which the player joined Cardiff City on loan in 2005 and was swiftly signed permanently.
After two seasons of consistent performances, Loovens joined Scottish giants Celtic. He spent four seasons with the Bhoys, winning the Premiership and the Scottish Cup. A drop in form led to his sale to Zaragoza, where he played for a season. Loovens joined Sheffield Wednesday the following summer and went on to play for the Hillsborough-based side for the next five seasons.
Interestingly enough, he was made captain after a single season for the Owls. Given his tall physique, he developed a habit of popping with the odd goal from set-pieces. Until now, the defender has scored 15 club goals over his career. Given his skills and experience, he will certainly act as a solid leader to aid a relatively young Sunderland defence.
Sunderland were in dire need of extra cover at centre-back. With his height and physicality, Loovens definitely offers that and more. The Black Cats needed good leadership to mount a challenge to win immediate promotion to the Championship. And to that end, signing Loovens is a step forward on their road to recovery.
