Lilian Laslandes Bio Send To Friend  

Black Cats boss Peter Reid had been searching for a new striker for sometime. With Niall Quinn reaching the end of his career he was woefully short on back-up for Kevin Phillips' striker partner.

Reid pulled off something of a coup in managed to lure Laslandes to Wearside, and was hoping the gamble would pay off.

Laslandes is no stranger to silverware either - he has lifted the French title with both Auxerre and Bordeaux and won the French Cup twice with the former club.

However, Laslandes never settled in the north east, and in January 2002 he joined German club Cologne on loan for the remainder of the season with a view to a permanent move.

Laslandes' only goal for the Black Cats came in the Worthington Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in September 2001. He only started five Premiership games since his move, and featured in only 13 in total.

Cologne general manager Hannes Linssen said: 'He will have a short-term and immediate impact, otherwise we wouldn't have signed him. After all, he's a French international and has much international experience.'

Failed to make an impact in France, and at the end of the season was told he was free to find a new club.

Seems unlikely he will add to his appearances for Sunderland, and he was loaned out again, this time for the whole season, to Bastia in August 2002.