Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips has congratulated the Black Cats for achieving promotion to the Championship.
The Stadium of Light icon, speaking on Sky Sports, said he was “absolutely delighted and proud” with Sunderland’s feat.
Phillips spoke after Alex Neil’s charges beat Wycombe in Saturday’s League One playoff final at Wembley.
Sunderland had spent four long, agonising years in the third tier of English football.
The Black Cats also endured two failed playoff campaigns in that time.
But now, Sunderland have finally managed to get over the line and back into the Championship.
They beat Sheffield Wednesday in the semi-finals and saw off the Chairboys in London on Saturday.
Sunderland took the lead after just 12 minutes through Elliot Embleton.
The midfielder picked the ball up deep, drove it into the Wycombe half and had a go from 25 yards out.
David Stockdale, Wycombe’s keeper, failed to keep the ball out of the net.
And 11 minutes from time, Ross Stewart made sure of Sunderland’s victory with a low drive into the bottom-left hand corner.
“You can just see it,” Phillips said on Sky Sports after the final whistle. “I am absolutely delighted and so proud.
“I am not from Sunderland, but have a great affiliation and live in the area and I know how much it means to this football club.
“Having spent four seasons in League One, the pressures and everything that comes with it, to do it this way through the playoffs is an incredible feat.”
Sunderland also made history on Saturday, winning a Football League playoff final for the first time at the fourth attempt.