Former team-mate hails Dan Ballard’s rise as Marco Silva lands Benfica job | OneFootball

Former Blackpool defender Marvin Ekpiteta says he did not initially see Dan Ballard’s meteoric rise coming, but has watched the Sunderland centre-back grow into a leading figure for club and country.

“Not initially. I don’t think anyone would’ve seen it initially, but as he got more confident and started playing more games, he got better and better. One thing I liked about Dan - he was always willing to learn and improve.” He told The Blackpool Gazette.

Ballard took senior loans at Swindon, Millwall and Blackpool before joining Sunderland permanently in summer 2022. He has made over 120 appearances, helped Regis Le Bris’ side return to the Premier League and finish seventh to reach the Europa League, and won his 33rd Northern Ireland cap in a 1-0 loss to Slovakia last November before injury curtailed his involvement.

“When he came to us, he hadn’t really played much first-team football, and he’d had a big injury that had hindered him. Once he played a few games, he smashed it and hasn’t looked back since.”

“As defenders, dropping down does help with a side of your games that you need. That journey is perfect for any young defender watching.”

Marco Silva’s Fulham were the only Premier League side to do the double over Sunderland last season, winning 1-0 at home in November then 3-1 at the Stadium of Light four months later as Raul Jimenez scored twice. Fulham finished 11th, and on Tuesday Silva was confirmed as Benfica’s new boss, succeeding Jose Mourinho after Real Madrid triggered a clause in his Benfica deal.

Source: Sunderland Echo