#3 Jermain Defoe – Sunderland (2014-15)
Given their reputation, any time an established name from a European league moves to an MLS club, the general perception is that he is towards the end of his professional career. One man who has proven that the aforementioned statement is nothing but a myth is Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe.
Over recent times, the Black Cats have acquired the reputation of being a club that loves a relegation battle and more often than not comes out of it on the winning side. However, their greatest ever escape arguably came in the 2014-15 season when it looked certain that they were going down.
Prior to Defoe’s arrival at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland had won just three games and were just a point clear of Hull City in 18th spot. While Defoe only scored four goals in his first season at the club, the importance of three of his goals could not be understated as they were in the victories against Burnley, Everton and their arch-rivals Newcastle United. Sunderland eventually beat the drop by three points and if there was one man who turned it around for them with important goals, it has to be Jermain Defoe.
The England striker who spent time at clubs such as West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspurs, Bournemouth and Portsmouth is now back in the fold with the England National team and continues to be an ever-present threat to the opposition as the leader of Sunderland’s attack.
