Former Sunderland midfielder Jack Rodwell remains without a club after being released last summer.
The ex-Manchester City and Everton prospect joined Sunderland in 2014 for approximately £10 million, spending four years with the club before departing for Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer. During his time at the Stadium of Light, the Black Cats were relegated from the Premier League, but unlike many high-earning players who left, Rodwell stayed in the North East.
However, he played just 104 minutes of Championship football during the 2017/18 season, as Sunderland suffered a second successive relegation. His lack of involvement was highlighted in the Netflix series Sunderland ‘Til I Die, leading to criticism from supporters who felt he should have left after the club dropped out of the top flight.
Rodwell eventually departed following the arrival of Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven, later signing for Blackburn Rovers under Tony Mowbray. He made just 21 league appearances before securing a surprise move to Premier League side Sheffield United, where he featured only once in the top flight.
He then moved to Australia, playing for Western Sydney Wanderers before joining Sydney FC. The former England international was released last summer and remains without a club at 33.
Speaking to Optus Sport, Rodwell defended his Sunderland stint: “The thing that bugs me – especially afterward – is people saying, ‘For Jack, it was just the money.’ If it was just about money, I would have stayed at Man City.
“I went from winning the Premier League to Sunderland, who had just avoided relegation. I dropped from top to bottom purely because I wanted to play. I didn’t want to just sit there and collect a paycheck – that’s not who I am. I was forced to finish the season with the reserves, but I was made out to be the
scapegoat.”
