Kilbane admits he knew little about Le Bris when he took charge, but he has now been won over by the Frenchman.
He told Tribalfootball.com: "Oh jeez, look, he’s come from the unknown, hasn’t he? Not many people knew his name when he arrived. But again, it’s belief.
"Get the crowd onside early, get results, and Sunderland carries you forward. It’s a hard club to play for when things aren’t going well because there’s so much passion and scrutiny. From the outside you don’t always realise how big Sunderland is - it’s massive in the north-east and even across England.
"Wherever I go, outside the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton, Spurs, you always run into Sunderland or Leeds fans. You can’t underestimate how big that club is.
"When things are going well, there’s nothing better. And honestly, I think they’ve got a real chance of kicking on in the next few years."
- Kevin Kilbane was speaking to Tribalfootball on behalf of Betway