Growing up in Brittany, Le Bris was proud of his roots and the strong Breton cultural identity of the area.
So when deciding to leave, moving to the north-east of England may seem miles apart, but the 49-year-old has forged a strong attachment to Wearside.
“He used to be in a club in Lorient that had so much identity,” said Laurens.
“Sunderland was perfect for him. He could only have gone to a club with such a strong sense of identity and community like Sunderland has because that’s what he was used to.
“He’s a very proud Breton and he knows how much this means to people in Sunderland and in the region overall.”
If successful at Wembley, Le Bris would be the first French manager in the Premier League since Patrick Vieira left Crystal Palace in March 2023.
And with a doctorate in sport physiology and biomechanics to his name, he would certainly bring a different feel to the touchline, with behaviour associated with his countryman Arsene Wenger in his two decades at Arsenal.
“Le Bris grew up in an environment of having intellectual-type managers – Arsene Wenger types,” said Laurens.
“That really marked him as a player, and he was always going to be a similar coach to the ones he had.
“That is the view of how he sees the game. He is such a smart guy – he is very different to what we are used to in football. He is different to 90% of the other managers.”
If victorious at Wembley, this studious Frenchman will forever be a hero on Wearside – his reputation guaranteed if he writes a glorious new chapter in Sunderland’s chequered history.
