Granit Xhaka and Luke O’Nien thank Sunderland kit team with handwritten note | OneFootball

Granit Xhaka and Luke O’Nien have thanked Sunderland’s support staff with a handwritten note after the club’s historic season.

According to Sunderland Echo, kitman Luke Purcell shared the card on his Instagram story, captioning it as the reason he does what he does, alongside an emotional emoji.

The card appeared to carry the signatures of Xhaka and O’Nien, who took time to thank Purcell and the wider kit team for their behind-the-scenes work during a remarkable campaign.

Their message said Purcell had improved the group in a short spell, praised his attention to detail and character, stressed his importance to the team, and passed on thanks from all the players.

The gesture will no doubt be appreciated by supporters, with Sunderland’s togetherness repeatedly cited as central to this season’s success.

Régis Le Bris’ side finished seventh in their first season back in the Premier League, qualifying for the Europa League and earning a first European campaign since 1973-74.

Behind that rise sit many unheralded figures, from kit and medical teams to analysts, chefs, media staff and ground staff.

Xhaka arrived last summer with vast experience and quickly became one of the leaders in the Black Cats’ dressing room, while O’Nien has journeyed from League One to Europe.

Source: Sunderland Echo