“I was made a scapegoat” Ex Sunderland man regret 2014 shocking move to Stadium of Light while making a Verdict on embracing the wearside.
Former Sunderland midfielder Jack Rodwell believes he was unfairly made a “scapegoat” during his time at the club.
Rodwell, once a promising talent with Manchester City and Everton, joined Sunderland in 2014 and stayed for four years before moving to Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer. During his tenure at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland was relegated from the Premier League. While other high-paid players left, Rodwell remained in the North East.
Despite staying, he played only 104 minutes in the Championship during the 2017/18 season, when Sunderland faced a second relegation. His lack of playtime was highlighted in the Netflix series *Sunderland ‘Til I Die*, where fans criticized him for not leaving when the club dropped out of the top tier.
However, Rodwell shared a different perspective on that period in a recent interview with Optus Sport. He explained, “What frustrates me is the idea that ‘For Jack, it was just the money.’ If it were just about money, I would have stayed at Man City. I left a Premier League-winning side to join Sunderland, who had just avoided relegation, because I wanted to play rather than sit and collect a paycheck. That’s not who I am. I ended up with the reserves, which I accepted, but it felt like I was unfairly made out to be the scapegoat.”
Since leaving Sunderland in 2018, Rodwell has played for Blackburn, Sheffield United, and Australian teams Western Sydney and Sydney FC. Now 33, he’s currently a free agent after parting ways with Sydney FC in July.