Sunderland returned to the Premier League as First Division champions in 1999 with a then-record 105 points.Two consecutive seventh place finishes in the Premier League were followed by two less successful seasons, and they were relegated to the second-tier with a then-record low 19 points in 2003.Former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy took over at the club, and, in 2005, he took Sunderland up as champions for the third time in less than ten years. However, the club's stay in the top flight was short-lived; as Sunderland were once again relegated, this time with a new record-low total of 15 points. McCarthy left the club in mid-season, and he was replaced temporarily by former Sunderland player Kevin Ball.The record-low fifteen-point performance was surpassed in the 2007–08 season by Derby County, who finished on eleven points.
Following the club's relegation, it was taken over by the Irish Drumaville Consortium,headed by ex-player Niall Quinn, who appointed former Manchester United captain Roy Keane as the new manager.Under Keane, the club rose steadily up the table with an unbeaten run of 17 games to win promotion to the Premier League,and were named winners of the Championship after beating Luton Town 5–0 at Kenilworth Road on 6 May 2007.The club's form in the 2007–08 season was better than during their last season in the Premier League, as they finished 15th with 39 points.Following an inconsistent start to the 2008–09 season Keane resigned, to be replaced by coach Ricky Sbragia, initially as caretaker manager though his position was later made permanent. After keeping Sunderland in the Premier League, Sbragia stepped down from his managerial post.Steve Bruce was then announced as the new Sunderland manager on 3 June, signing a three-year contract.Sunderland completed the signing of Ghana international Asamoah Gyan in August 2010 for a fee around £13 million, becoming their new record transfer fee.
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