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2003 â Eleven years ago today saw the departure of post-World War II record goalscorer Kevin Phillips, who joined Southampton for £3.25m.
âSuper Kevâ joined the club in 1997 and he would go on to make over 200 appearances for the club, scoring over 100 goals.
The Hitchin-born striker scored 35 goals for the Black Cats during his first season at the club, which was followed by 25 in his second as Sunderland were crowned champions of Division One.
Many tipped the forward to struggle in the top tier but by mid-January he had already notched 20 goals, finishing the season on 30 to become the first and only English player to win the European Golden Boot award.
In January 2001, Phillips scored his 104th Sunderland goal, breaking the clubâs post-war goalscoring record as he finished the season with 18 goals in all competitions.
Sunderland were relegated following the end of the 2002-03 season and Phillips departed, but 130 goals in 235 matches means that the forward will never be forgotten on Wearside.