Sunderland’s Chris Rigg makes Carabao Cup history

Carabao Cup

Words: EFL

Sixteen-year-old Chris Rigg made history in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, as the Sunderland midfielder became the Club’s youngest-ever goalscorer and in doing so, also became the youngest-ever goalscorer in League Cup history. 

Rigg scored a second-half equaliser for the Black Cats as Tony Mowbray’s side suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Crewe Alexandra. 

At the age of 16 years and 51 days, the teenager is now the youngest-ever goalscorer in League Cup history, ahead of Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere and Wayne Rooney, who all scored in the competition as teenagers. 

“It feels really good,” Rigg told Sunderland AFC TV. “I’ve not long been in the squad as a rotation player and I’m just doing my job for the team really.

“The gaffer said to me don’t change the way I play. He’s watched me play for the U21s and U18s and his message to me was just ‘don’t change how you play’.  I love going forward, I love tackling and hopefully the lads see how ambitious I am to be in the team and make it in.

"The lads have been great with me, I’ve got nothing but praise for them and the staff at Sunderland. I really want to kick on in the season now if I get the chance, score a few more goals and hopefully this is just the start. Hopefully I can make more contributions either this weekend against Preston or this season and there are many more days like this to come.”

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Rigg initially joined Sunderland at primary school age and has featured for England at U15, U16 and U17 level.  He made history last season when making his senior debut in the FA Cup, coming off the bench in Sunderland’s third round win against Shrewsbury Town. In doing so, he became Sunderland’s youngster-ever outfield player at just 15 years and 203 days. 

He featured regularly for Sunderland in pre-season, scoring two goals. Speaking during the Club’s summer tour of America, Rigg said: “Signing a new contract was huge for me. I couldn’t be too buzzing with my goals in the summer because it was still pre-season, but hopefully the gaffer was impressed and I want to just help the team out. 

“This pre-season just gone was my first one, hopefully the first of many with this Club and it was really good. I really enjoyed it and I’m buzzing for the season to come and where it might take me.

“Obviously it’s tough having just done my GCSE’s, but the lads have been great, so great. But this is a young squad as well, I’d like to say I’m not out of place so I just need to keep going.”

Regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in the EFL, manager Tony Mowbray added: “I’m really pleased for him. I treat him as a more experienced player and sometimes have to remind myself he’s only 16, but he’s a lovely footballer and a lovely talent.”