DAN BALLARD left Arsenal a boy. Now he is the “warrior” Sunderland’s top brass are most proud of.
The all-action defender, 26, may not be captain on Wearside. He does not need it. A more natural leader you will not find.
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And once skipper Granit Xhaka is eventually ready to hand over the armband, they already have a tailor-made candidate to take over the club’s march to the big time.
It was Ballard’s winner in stoppage time of extra time against Coventry City in the Championship play-off semi-final in 2025 that ultimately set them up for Wembley glory against Sheffield United.
There was no stopping the Northern Ireland international in the Premier League either. A goal in an opening day victory over West Ham set the tone for a fairytale campaign.
The club may have splashed the cash on stars such as Malick Fofana and Dayann Methalie since. But there is nobody Sunderland would rather have in the heart of their side as they prepare for a European adventure 53 years in the making.
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Sporting director Florent Ghisolfi, who recently tied Ballard down to a new contract until 2029, told Sun Sport: “Dan is not something normal. He played so much in the Championship and then when you see him today he’s just a top player. He’s a warrior.
“They are the most important players in the team because they are the legacy.
“We’ve spoken about the balance between leadership and young potential, but this balance between new players and legacy is also very important.
“We are proud to help this type of player to be a player who plays Premier League and Europa League.”
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Ballard arrived at Stadium of Light after they had finally managed to escape League One wilderness. He cost around £1m from Arsenal and has proven to be one of the best bargains in the club’s history.
The tough centre-back’s impact has not just been felt on the pitch. His presence is felt right the way through the club’s Academy of Light HQ.
Academy graduate Chris Rigg, 19, has been alongside Ballard throughout Sunderland’s incredible rise.
He told The Sun: “He’s such a good lad. He comes across as this big guy, but he’s really soft, really.
“He’s an outstanding footballer. He’s come through the leagues and showed what he can do. He’s a really important part of our group on and off the pitch.”
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Ballard has undergone quite the transformation from the first time he stepped into the Academy of Light a decade ago.
Ballard had just been told he was getting released for a second time, the first coming when he was a midfielder aged 14. Despite that and nursing a back problem, the then 16-year-old accepted an invitation to take a three hour train from London to play for Arsenal’s academy against his current employers.
He knew he needed to play in order to impress any watching scouts, only the pain from his injury forced him off.
Ballard left believing his shot at the big time was done. But his guts and talent did not go unnoticed. He finally managed to earn a scholarship deal after receiving another bite of the cherry with Arsenal and eventually turned pro.
After loans at Swindon Town, Blackpool, and Millwall, Arsenal sold Ballard permanently to Sunderland without him making a senior competitive appearance at the Emirates.
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Leaving a club after 15 years would be daunting for anybody. But it was a move that proved to be the making of him. And he finally got his coming of age moment last November.
After thundering in a strike in a draw against eventual champions Arsenal, he flexed his muscles in celebration in front of his adoring Mackem public.
Another iconic image to add to the collection in the red and white.
Ballard’s legendary status up north is already secured. But another Black Cats icon reckons he is ready-made to take over from Xhaka one day.
And the centre-back has been backed to kick off the club’s biggest week for over half a century by writing another chapter in his Sunderland love story against his old club today.
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Speaking to Sun Sport via BestBettingSites, former striker Kevin Phillips said: “Xhaka is more of a household name but Ballard has been outstanding at Sunderland.
“He reminds me probably of a guy called Jody Craddock, who signed on the same day with me at Sunderland, a no-nonsense centre-half.
“The fans loved him because he loved a battle, he loved to get stuck in, and he chipped in with a few goals.
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“Ballard has got a big future in front of him. If he could emulate what Xhaka has done in his career, then wow, he’ll go on to be some player.
“He definitely steps up on the big occasions, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he does it again at the weekend.”