For Sunderland fans, the name Kader Mangane probably won’t bring back the fondest of memories, if they can remember him at all.
After all, the Senegalese only spent six months at the Stadium of Light on loan from Al Hilal, although the reason behind that move in January 2013, from the Black Cats’ point of view, are a bit confusing.
We say this because during his time in the north of England, the now 34-year-old only made two appearances for Sunderland, and they were both from the bench for a combined total of 19 minutes.
Speaking to So Foot about his career, now a regular for Strasbourg in Ligue 1, the centre-back recalled his time at the Stadium of Light, and while he didn’t play much, he doesn’t see it as time wasted.
He said: “I only played two games… It’s a bit of a regret to not have played more in the Premier League, it’s true. They were choices made by the managers I had. On the football side, it could have gone better, but we learn other things.
“I was used to playing a bit more. There, I had to deal with a lack of game time despite giving it my all at training. It was enriching on a human level, even if you prefer being on the pitch. You always have to take positives”.
Playing more minutes for Sunderland’s reserves than the first-team, Mangane swiftly returned to Al Hilal six months later, before heading out to Turkey on loan, where he stayed until 2015.
A return to France ensued with Gazélec Ajaccio, only to move to Strasbourg a year later, where he has been a mainstay since.
