“Emotional! Kyril Louis-Dreyfus Breaks Silence with Powerful 16-Word Message After Premier League Return”
Sunderland Owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus Dedicates Promotion to Late Father in Emotional Tribute
Following Sunderland’s dramatic return to the Premier League, majority owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, dedicating the achievement to his late father, Robert Louis-Dreyfus.
The day after Sunderland’s thrilling 2-1 win over Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, Louis-Dreyfus posted a black-and-white photo of his father, who once owned Olympique de Marseille, standing pitchside in a club shirt.
The caption read:
“Premier League. This one’s for you. Your love for the game lives on. We miss you.”
Robert Louis-Dreyfus, who passed away in 2009, was instrumental in rebuilding Marseille during his tenure from 1996 to 2009.
His son Kyril became Sunderland’s majority shareholder in 2022 at just 23 years old and has since played a key role in the club’s resurgence—revamping its structure and identity alongside a dynamic leadership team.
Under head coach Régis Le Bris, Sunderland, featuring one of the youngest squads in Championship history, defied expectations and completed a fairytale rise back to the Premier League.
Le Bris Reflects on Wembley Heroics
Sunderland’s promotion was sealed in spectacular fashion thanks to 19-year-old Tommy Watson, who scored a dramatic 95th-minute winner at Wembley.
Watson, who is set to join Brighton & Hove Albion this summer, curled home a precise finish to complete a stunning comeback, sparking jubilant celebrations among Sunderland fans.
Reflecting on the match, Le Bris said:
“It’s an incredible outcome—again. Just like in the semi-final, we showed resilience and belief.
Even when we weren’t in control, we stayed united and stuck to our plan. You could sense the shift in momentum late on, and it came.”
He also praised the squad’s character, especially amid challenges like losing key defender Luke O’Nien early in the match. Le Bris highlighted the attitude of Meps, who stepped in:
“When he was left out ahead of the semi-finals, he told me, ‘I’ll stay connected with the group.’ That mindset mattered today. He was ready and helped us tactically against Kieffer Moore by swapping with Ballard. It made a difference.”
Sunderland’s return to the top flight marks the end of a six-year absence and the beginning of a new era under young, ambitious leadership and a united squad that has captured the imagination of fans.
