Lynden Gooch cut an emotional figure on the pitch dropping to his knees after the final whistle went at Wembley. The Sunderland academy graduate has been through it all with the Black Cats; dropping to the Championship, relegation to League One, failed play-off attempts, a Papa John's Trophy win, and finally promotion back to the second tier.
The 26-year-old revealed he's set for contract talks with Alex Neil on Tuesday, with his contract set to expire this summer. It's been a rollercoaster of a journey for the American but if this is his final act, he admits it could not have a better ending.
"Unbelievable. I've been through everything and this means everything," said Gooch. "This is better than anything I've ever experienced.
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"Obviously I've played in the Premier League but staying all this time and trying to get the club back to a higher level, finally, finally we've done it.
"If it is my last game then you couldn't ask for a better way to go out. I'll see what happens. I'll sit down with the gaffer on Tuesday and we'll see what happens.
"[It is the] Best day of my career by far. Last year, winning and scoring the goal was a big moment. In the grand scheme of things this was much better. Better to do it in front of the fans but we're in the Championship now.
"No matter where I end up, I'm a Sunderland fan for life. I've been a part of the club for 16 years and this is the best day of my career."
Gooch has been through his fair share of hard times as an individual. But, like the rest of the Sunderland fanbase, he'll enjoy the aftermath and the part he's played in writing history.
"Amazing. Amazing," he added. "We've had some tough times together. At certain points people have given up on me but all my focus since I was a ten year old boy was to play for Sunderland. I'm not from Sunderland but it's my home now.
"To be honest, I'm very emotional. It's not easy. This is my club and I've had some difficult moments. Obviously this gaffer has come in and been unbelievable. I can't thank him enough.
"Top drawer. He's a manager who has been there and done it at a higher level. He's been promoted out of the Championship. It's just amazing.
"You trust him. I trust him with my life. I genuinely would. He's amazing. For the good of the club I hope he does stay wherever I end up, if I stay, if I go."
Gooch was full of praise for Alex Neil and the impressive impact he's had on the Sunderland squad. Gooch added: "I genuinely don't know. Listen this is my club. If I get the chance [to stay] of course I would love to. The gaffer has been top drawer.
"He's amazing. We've struggled for the last few years and obviously, our first season in League One, we lost the final and it could have been so different.
"He's galvanised the group from tough times and we've got it over the line. You can't be more complimentary to him, he's been top drawer."
