Jack Rodwell opens up on Sunderland nightmare and Netflix villain portrayal

The former England midfielder left Sunderland in 2018 after four wretched years at the Stadium of Light and is now looking to rebuld his career in Australia

Jack Rodwell has opened up in-depth about the torrid time he endured at Sunderland.

The midfielder was cast as the baddie in the first series of the infamous Netflix documentary which centred around the Black Cats' first season after relegation from the Premier League.

Rodwell signed for the club in 2014 for a fee of £10million from Manchester City but left after four disastrous years.

He was painted as something of an injury crock even before the presence of TV crews due to his constant lay-offs. And that narrative only increased once the final documentary went out.

“The cameras became normal,” Rodwell said, speaking to the Athletic.

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“But it was a bad time for me. I was in the process of getting thrown under the bus for being in the building.

"Everyone inside the club will tell you I wasn’t a bad lad. I did everything that was asked of me and more whereas other players wouldn’t have.

“I just felt like they were using me. I haven’t spoken about it too much, to be honest, because it’s not something I like to waste my energy on.

"I know what I’m like as a person and my family and friends do. That’s the important thing.”

Another criticism aimed at Rodwell was his apparent refusal to walk out on his Sunderland contract. It is a decision he still stands by.

He added: “You work your whole life and you make sacrifices; you don’t go out, you don’t see your mates, you don’t go out at the weekend.

"You train hard to get to a point to financially support your family. I don’t want my little boy to struggle.

"I don’t want my parents to struggle. Then for someone to say, ‘No, throw it all away’ you know, it’s hard.

“There were other players on big money as well. But not only that, if they’d gone about it in the right way, if they’d treated me well, then you know…but to do what they did, then ask me to just forget my deal and go. It was a kick in the teeth.”

Rodwell also opened up about how he was treated towards the end of his stay on Wearside.

“I used to walk in there and they’d say to me, ‘You’re not training today’.

“They’d make me come in three times a day every day and couldn’t train with the lads. I was just on my own doing fitness stuff. "They moved me out of the dressing room.

“It wasn’t through anything I’d done and it was a difficult period.

"I’ve heard of it happening to other players but we had the cameras there too. For me, it was being able to look myself in the mirror and say ‘I’m doing everything they ask of me’.

“I turned up on time. I took it. I wasn’t sacking it off or anything like that."

Rodwell played for both Blackburn and Sheffield United after leaving the Stadium of Light and has recently signed up with Australian outfit Western Sydney Wanderers.

It is the start of what the 30-year-old hopes is a new chapter and a chance to rebuild his career, which has been tarnished by the documentary and the various claims made against him.

Speaking after his unveiling, he said: “Australia is like a second home to me, it’s my favourite country on earth, it’s where my wife and her family are from; we love the place.

“I honestly can’t wait to play. I’d like to thank the club for this opportunity, and hope I can repay the faith they have shown in me.”