Swansea City Association Football Club (/ˈswɒnzi/SWON-zee;Welsh:Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Abertawe[4]) is a Welsh professionalfootball club based inSwansea,Wales. Though based in Wales, they play in the English football league system and compete in theChampionship, the second tier ofEnglish football. Swansea have played their home matches at theSwansea.com Stadium (formerly known as the Liberty Stadium) since 2005, having previously played at theVetch Field since the club was founded.
The club was founded in 1912 asSwansea Town and entered into theSouthern League, winning theWelsh Cup in their debut season. They were admitted into theFootball League in 1920 and won theThird Division South title in 1924–25. They again won the Third Division South title in 1948–49, having been relegated two years previously. They fell into theFourth Division after relegations in 1965 and 1967. The club changed their name to Swansea City in 1969 to reflect Swansea's new status as acity.[5] They were promoted at the end of the 1969–70 season.
Swansea won three promotions in four seasons to reach theFirst Division in 1981. They finished sixth the following season, a club record. The club suffered a relegation the season after, returning to the Fourth Division by 1986 and then narrowly avoiding relegation to theConference in2003. In 2011, they were promoted to thePremier League and won theLeague Cup two years later, beatingBradford City5–0 in the final. It was the competition's highest ever winning margin for the final, with Swansea winning the first major trophy in the club's history and qualifying for the2013–14 UEFA Europa League. The club was relegated from the Premier League at the end of the2017–18 season.
The club's climb from the fourth division of English football to the top division is chronicled in the 2014 film,Jack to a King – The Swansea Story. The Swansea City Supporters Trust continues to own shares in the club;[6] their involvement was hailed bySupporters Direct in 2012 as "the most high profile example of the involvement of a supporters' trust in the direct running of a club".[7]
The Swansea Town team during its first season, 1912–13
The area around Swansea traditionally had been arugby area, and despite previous attempts by a football club named Swansea Villa, there were no notable football clubs until the establishment of 'Swansea Town AFC' in the summer of 1912. Following the lead of many otherSouth Wales sides, the club joined the Second Division of theSouthern League for the following season. J. W. Thorpe was the club's first chairman. A site owned by Swansea Gaslight Co., calledVetch Field due to the vegetables that grew there, was rented to be the club's ground.
The club's first professional match was a 1–1 draw at the Vetch Field againstCardiff City on 7 September 1912. During that first season theWelsh Cup was won for the first time. The Swans beat reigning English championsBlackburn Rovers 1–0 in the first round of the 1914–15FA Cup, Swansea's goal coming fromBen Beynon.[8]
Following theFirst World War the Southern League dropped its Second Division, and with many clubs dropping out due to financial difficulties, the Swans were placed in the First Division. After four seasons in the Southern League, Swansea Town became founder members of the newThird Division ofThe Football League in 1920 and thenDivision Three (South) the following season.
After five seasons in Division Three (South) and a few failed bids for promotion, the Swans reached theSecond Division for the first time in 1925, beatingExeter City 2–1 at home on the final day of the season to win the division. The side had remained unbeaten at home in the league all season – something the next promotion team would emulate over twenty years later. The following season the Swans reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time, beating Exeter City,Watford,Blackpool, Stoke City,Millwall andArsenal, before losing 3–0 to eventual cup winnersBolton Wanderers atWhite Hart Lane. Swans record their highest average attendance during the season of 16,118 for pre-war league games. During the 1926–27 season they beatReal Madrid 3–0 on tour. During the 1931–32 season they finished 1st in the league and won the Welsh Cup after beatingWrexham 2–0 away after a replay.
Ivor Allchurch scored 164 goals in 445 appearances for the Swans between 1947–1958 and 1965–1968, despite only having one leg.
After just one season back from wartime football, the Swans finished 21st in theSecond Division, and thus returned toDivision Three (South) for the first time since 1925. The following season was one of consolidation, however in 1948–1949 the Swans stormed their way to winning the division for the second time. Only one point was dropped at home all season as the feat of the 1925 promotion side was emulated, with the side finishing a whole seven points ahead of second placedReading.Billy McCandless was the manager who led the side to promotion, and in doing so he completed a rarehat-trick of winning the Third Division (South) title with all threeSouth Wales clubs – and without losing a home game with Swansea or Cardiff.
Following promotion, the Swans had another 15 years of Second Division football to look forward to, however despite what successive managers and chairmen were to say, Swansea Town only once during that time looked like they could genuinely challenge for promotion. That came in the 1955–56 season, when a side containing the likes ofIvor Allchurch,Terry Medwin,Harry Griffiths and Tom Kiley led the table early in the season, before an injury to Kiley, referred to as thelinchpin of the side, in mid-November led to a decline in form. He was never adequately replaced, but despite this and the sale of some of the club's best players, the side remained in contention for promotion until the beginning of April. Following a 6–1 win over second placedLeicester City at the Vetch Field at the end of March the side was just two points behind second placedLiverpool with a game in hand – however subsequent results were not as encouraging, and they eventually slipped away to finish tenth.
The Swans finished tenth for the third consecutive season in 1956–57. This season saw the club finish with its highest ever rate of goals per game (90 in total). This figure included big victories againstBlackburn Rovers (5–1) andBristol City (5–0) but 90 goals were conceded at the other end, including a 7-3 drubbing atFulham.
The 1957-58 season was one of struggle for the Swans and they spent much of the season in the relegation zone. Despite a 5-1 derby victory over Cardiff before Christmas, the Swans struggled to maintain any form. The departure of Cliff Jones to Tottenham in February compounded matters and it was only a dramatic revival towards the end of the season, including a famous 7-0 win overDerby County (a side they had lost 1-0 to only a day before) during Easter that kept the Swans in the division. That season, Swans conceded a record 99 goals in the league.
In 1964, the Swans reached a secondFA Cup semi-final, beatingBarrow,Sheffield United andStoke City en route to a famous sixth round victory at Anfield. Few gave the Swans, struggling for their lives at the bottom of Division Two, any chance of causing an upset against the league leaders. But the Swans were 0–2 up at half-time thanks toJimmy McLaughlin and Eddie Thomas. Liverpool turned up the pressure in the second half, pulling a goal back before being awarded a penalty nine minutes from time.Ronnie Moran had established an excellent record as apenalty taker, but tic reviv to beat the excellentNoel Dwyer on this occasion. Fellow second division sidePreston North End awaited in the semi-final atVilla Park, but despite taking the lead through McLaughlin again, the Swans were to be denied by a second half penalty and a wonder goal from nearly 40 yards.
After flirting with relegation on a few occasions during the previous seasons, the Swans' luck finally ran out a season later in 1965, and they were back in the Third Division.
Following relegation,Trevor Morris, who had been manager since 1958, was sacked andGlyn Davies, a former Swansea player, was appointed in his place. Davies re-signed the 36-year-oldIvor Allchurch fromCardiff City, but despite winning theWelsh Cup, the season saw some of the club's heaviest defeats, and the manager only lasted the season. Relegation to Division Four followed in 1967 andIvor Allchurch retired. The 1967–68 season saw the record attendance of 32,796 at theVetch Field for anFA Cup Fourth Round match againstArsenal.
A tragedy struck the club on 20 January 1969 when players Roy Evans and Brian Purcell were killed in a car crash on the way to a game.[9]
In 1969, the club name was changed to Swansea City, andRoy Bentley's side celebrated by securing promotion back to the Third Division. A record run of 19 matches unbeaten provided the foundations for a promotion challenge in 1971–72, but an awful run towards the end of the season resulted in a mid-table finish. A poor start the following season, combined with falling attendances, saw Bentley resign, and he was replaced byHarry Gregg. Gregg failed to stop the rot and the club was back in the Fourth Division for 1973–74 season.
A record low crowd of just 1,358 watched the Swans againstNorthampton Town, and the following season the Swans were forced to apply for re-election to the Football League after a last day defeat atRochdale condemned them to a 21st-place finish. The application was a success, although by now former player Harry Griffiths had replaced Gregg as manager. Malcolm Struel also took over as chairman, having previously been on the board, and promised a return to former glories, stating that he would not sell the club's best young talent as previous boards had done.
Despite promising performances during the first half of the 1977–78 season, Harry Griffiths resigned as Swansea City's manager in February 1978, doubting his own ability to take the club any further. The new manager was formerLiverpool,Cardiff City andWales strikerJohn Toshack. On 1 March 1978, at 28 years old, Toshack became the youngest manager in theFootball League, with Griffiths as his assistant. Thus began a remarkable climb from theFourth Division to the top of the entire league. Despite relinquishing his role as manager before the end of the season, this was Griffiths' team, and the promotion from the Fourth Division was largely his doing. During this season, the Swans' record league win was achieved (8–0 againstHartlepool United). Before promotion was secured, however, Harry Griffiths died of a heart attack on 25 April 1978 before the home game againstScunthorpe United.
A further promotion was achieved next season and the club returned to theSecond Division after an absence of 14 years, with Toshack himself coming off the bench to score the winning goal againstChesterfield and thus secure promotion.
After a season of consolidation, Swansea City again challenged for promotion and travelled toPreston North End on 2 May 1981 in the knowledge that victory would assure them a place in theFirst Division for the first time in the club's history. A 3–1 win guaranteed a third promotion in four seasons and Swansea City joined the footballing elite. The goalscorers on that day atDeepdale wereTommy Craig,Leighton James andJeremy Charles. The four-year rise from basement to top division is a record in English football, held jointly withWimbledon F.C.[10] Swansea also won the Welsh Cup that season, qualifying for Europe for the first time since the 1965–66 season.[11]
The 1981–82 season began with the fixture computer handing Swansea a first-day home game againstLeeds United, which the club promptly won 5–1 with a hat-trick by debutantBob Latchford. Swansea had swept from the basement division to the top of the entire Football League in three years. Victories overLiverpool,Manchester United,Arsenal andTottenham Hotspur followed as the club topped the league on several further occasions. However, injuries to key players took their toll, and the lack of depth in the squad meant that the season ended in sixth-place finish.
Two consecutive relegations followed, and Toshack was sacked. By 1985, the club was battling for its very survival on two fronts. Whilst its creditors lined up aHigh Court hearing with the aim of liquidating the club, Swansea City had come to rely on a combination of old players and young professionals.
Wound up by court order in December 1985, Swansea City was saved by local businessman Doug Sharpe who took over the running of the club, although the change of ownership was not enough to prevent relegation to theFourth Division in 1986.[12] Eight years on from the first promotion under Toshack, the club was back where it had started.
Swansea won promotion from the Fourth Division in 1988 – beatingRotherham United andTorquay United over two legs in the inaugural playoffs. They remained in the league's third tier for the next eight seasons – the longest period of stability the club had seen since the 1940s. UnderTerry Yorath and thenFrank Burrows, the club managed to stay in the Second Division, reach the playoff semi-finals in 1993 and make their firstWembley Stadium appearance a year later.
Burrows guided the Swans to within 180 minutes of Wembley in 1993 – a run of five wins in the last six league matches (all at home) secured a playoff place, and with five minutes remaining of the first leg of the semi-final againstWest Bromwich Albion, the Swans were 2–0 up. Andy McFarlane scored anown goal when the ball rebounded off the crossbar then into the net off his knee, and two early goals in the second leg gave the Baggies the advantage, until midfielderMicky Mellon was sent off. Burrows brought onColin West, but he was sent off minutes later, ending any hopes of a Wembley final.
Although the league campaign the following season did not live up the previous one, mainly due to the sale of key players, Burrows guided the Swans to Wembley for the first time in their history for the final of the Autoglass Trophy. Wins overPlymouth Argyle &Exeter City in the group stage followed by triumphs over Exeter again,Port Vale,Leyton Orient andWycombe Wanderers over two legs saw the Swans playHuddersfield Town in a final that finished 1–1. The Swans went on to win 3–1 on penalties.
In the following season, the club again reached the semi-finals of the Auto Windscreens Shield, eventually going out toBirmingham City, and an eventful FA Cup run saw them win atMiddlesbrough in a third round replay, before going out to Newcastle United atSt James' Park.
The 1995–96 season ended with relegation back to the third division after eight years. The Swans were doing fine around Christmas time, but a complete collapse in the second half of the season, including a 7–0 FA Cup defeat at third divisionFulham, 4–0 and 5–1 defeats at Blackpool andOxford United respectively, led to relegation, despite the arrival ofJan Mølby.
Relegation in 1996 was accompanied by a club record of being managed by four men in the same season.Kevin Cullis was appointed as manager by aconsortium wishing to buy the club. Cullis’ previous experience was withnon-league clubCradley Town youth team. Alarmed at developments at the club, Sharpe invoked a contractual clause to cancel the deal and resumed control himself: Cullis was promptly sacked after just six days.
Cullis' successor was the Dane,Jan Mølby, a formerLiverpool player taking his first steps in management. His appointment inevitably prompted comparison with the Toshack era which began nearly 20 years earlier. Despite relegation in 1996, the club reached the final of the 1997Third Division promotion play-offs but lost toNorthampton Town, whose goal came from a re-taken free kick byJohn Frain in the final minute. Mølby was sacked just weeks into the following season, with Swansea struggling near the foot of the league. After the initial optimism, the Liverpool connection had not caused history to repeat itself.
Alan Cork was appointed as manager, but was dismissed after leading the club to its lowest league finish for 23 years.John Hollins was appointed, and things soon started to improve. In 1999, the club reached the promotionplayoffs, only to lose in extra time atScunthorpe United. The season included a third roundFA Cup victory overPremiership opponentsWest Ham United, whose team includedFrank Lampard,Joe Cole,Rio Ferdinand andJohn Hartson. Swansea thus became the first bottom division team to defeat a Premiership club in the FA Cup since the re-organisation of the league structure in 1992.
The club was promoted in 2000 as Division Three champions, following a championship decider on the final day of the season against second-placedRotherham United. The side conceded just 32 goals during the1999–2000 season, largely due to the form of excellent centre-back pairing Jason Smith andMatthew Bound, as well askeeperRoger Freestone. During the season the side set a record of nine consecutive league victories, and, during the same period, seven consecutive clean sheets. StrikerWalter Boyd also set an unwanted record of being the fastest substitute ever sent off, when he was red-carded for striking aDarlington player seconds after being brought on and before play had resumed, therefore being officially recorded as zero seconds.
Promotion was secured courtesy of a 3–0 win overExeter City at a packedVetch Field. However, the following week's 1–1 draw atRotherham United, which confirmed Swansea as Division Three Champions, was overshadowed by the death of supporter Terry Coles, who was trampled to death by apolice horse in narrow Millmoor Lane before the game.
The team were relegated in May 2001, just 12 months after promotion. Hollins had failed to strengthen the side at all during the summer, and despite a decent start, a 5–1 defeat at big-spendingReading in September led to a slide down the table, and the side won just eight games all season, and onlyOxford United finished below them. Relegation seemed certain following a 5–3 defeat at fellow strugglersLuton Town, whereGiovanni Savarese scored a hat-trick, however Hollins maintained that the side could stay up, even when 18 points were needed from the final six matches, and for two other teams to pick up no more points.
Last years at Vetch Field and return to League One (2001–2005)
Swansea fans and players celebrate the last league goal to be scored at theVetch Field
In July 2001, following relegation back toThird Division, the club was sold to managing director Mike Lewis for £1. Lewis subsequently sold on his stake to a consortium of Australian businessmen behind theBrisbane Lions (An Australian Rules Football team that is based in Brisbane) football team, fronted by Tony Petty. Seven players were sacked and eight others saw their contracts terminated. During this period Hollins was sacked after a poor start to the season, andColin Addison took over as manager. The turmoil led to the creation of the Swansea Citysupporters' trust, which sought to save the club and ultimately guarantee supporter representation on the club's board.
The Petty group sold its stake in January 2002 after a bitter stand-off with the Mel Nurse consortium, which was supported by the majority of the club's fans. Jim Moore and Mel Griffin, previously rescuers of Hull City, stepped into the breach and persuaded Petty to sell to them (as he had promised to bankrupt the club & make it extinct rather than sell to Nurse). From there Moore became chairman for three weeks giving the "Mel Nurse Consortium" time to organize its finances. Having successfully reorganized the finances of Hull City, both Moore and Griffin were believers in clubs belonging in the hands of local people, and so believing Nurse's group were best for The Swans, subsequently passed the club onto Nurses consortium for the fee of £1. Despite problems off the pitch, Addison's side had managed a mid-table position, but he was dismissed in early March, and underNick Cusack the club slumped to a 20th placed-finish. Cusack lasted just eight games into the following season, and was sacked after a 1–0 defeat at league debutantsBoston United had put the Swans on the bottom of the Football League for the first time in their 91-year history. He was replaced byBrian Flynn. Swansea City avoided relegation to theFootball Conference on the last day of the season, at the expense ofExeter City, a club then vice-chaired by Mike Lewis.
Brian Flynn's side finished 2003–04 10th and reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in 24 years, eventually losing 2–1 atTranmere Rovers. Flynn was dismissed and replaced byKenny Jackett. Jackett lost his first six matches in charge, ending any hope of a play-off place. The following season Jackett recruited a number of new defensive players and set a record of seven consecutive home clean sheets, all victories. The Swans' last season at the Vetch Field saw the club win promotion on the last day of the season, clinching a 3rd-placed finish with a 1–0 win away toBury. Their last league game at their old ground was a 1–0 win overShrewsbury Town, with the last game of any sort being a 2–1 win againstWrexham in the final of the 2005FAW Premier Cup.
Move to Liberty Stadium and return to top flight (2005–2011)
The club moved to the newLiberty Stadium during the summer of 2005. The first competitive game was a 1–0 victory againstTranmere Rovers in August 2005. In their first season back in League One, Swansea, after beatingBrentford in the semi-finals, lost onpenalties toBarnsley in the final at theMillennium Stadium in Cardiff. That same season, Swansea won theFootball League Trophy for the first time since 1994, and theFAW Premier Cup for a second successive year.
In the following season Jackett resigned as manager in mid-season to be replaced byRoberto Martínez. Martínez's arrival saw an improvement in form, but Swansea missed out on the play-offs again. The following season, an 18-game unbeaten run helped them to the League One title. The club amassed a total of 92 points over the course of the season, the highest ever by a Welsh club in the Football League. Five Swansea players were in the PFA Team of the Year, including the division's 29-goal top scorerJason Scotland. That same season Swansea lost on penalties toMilton Keynes Dons in the area final of theFootball League Trophy.
Swansea City celebrate promotion to the Premier League atWembley Stadium
Upon returning to the second tier of English football after 24 years Swansea City finished the 2008–09 season in eighth place, and missed out on the play-offs the following season by a single point. After 63 wins in 126 games for Swansea City, Martínez left forWigan Athletic on 15 June 2009 with his tenure returning just 26 losses in that time. He was replaced by PortuguesePaulo Sousa. Sousa subsequently left Swansea to take charge atLeicester City on 5 July 2010, lasting just one year and 13 days in South Wales. However, just before the departure of Sousa, on 15 May 2010, Swansea playerBesian Idrizaj suffered a heart attack in his native Austria while on international duty. The club retired the number 40 shirt in his memory, and the players wore shirts dedicated to Idrizaj after their victory in the play-off final.
Northern IrishmanBrendan Rodgers took charge for the 2010–11 season. He guided the club to a third-placed finish and qualification for the Championship play-offs. After beatingNottingham Forest 3–1 on aggregate in the semi-final they defeatedReading 4–2 inthe final atWembley Stadium, withScott Sinclair scoring a hat-trick.[13]
By being promoted to the Premier League for the2011–12 season, Swansea became the first Welsh team to play in the division since its formation in 1992.[14] Swansea signedDanny Graham fromWatford for a then-record fee of £3.5 million.[15] They defeatedArsenal,Liverpool andManchester City, the eventual champions, at home during the season.[16] Swansea finished their debut Premier League season in 11th, but at the end of the seasonBrendan Rodgers left to manage Liverpool.[17] He was replaced byMichael Laudrup for the2012–13 Premier League season, which was the club's centenary season.[17] Laudrup's first league game ended in a 0–5 victory overQueens Park Rangers away atLoftus Road.[18] Swansea then beatWest Ham United 3–0 at theLiberty Stadium, withMichu scoring his third goal in two games.[19] This saw Swansea top of the Premier League; it was the first time since October 1981 the team had been at the summit of the top tier.[19]
The Swansea City A.F.C. centenary crest used during the2012–13 season
On 15 October 2012, the club announced a profit of £14.2 million after their first season in the Premier League.[20] On 1 December, Swansea picked up a 0–2 away win against Arsenal, with Michu scoring twice during the last minutes of the game, in Swansea's first win at Arsenal in three decades.[21] Michu ended the season as the club's top scorer in all competitions, with 22 goals.[22]
On 24 February 2013, Swansea beatBradford City 0–5 in theLeague Cup final en route to the biggest win in the final of the competition.[23][24] This triumph, in a record victory, was Swansea's first major piece of silverware and qualified them for the2013–14 UEFA Europa League. Swansea finished the season in ninth place in the Premier League, improving upon the league standing achieved in the previous season. On 11 July, Swansea paid a club record transfer fee of £12 million to secure the signing of strikerWilfried Bony fromVitesse Arnhem; Bony was the leading goalscorer in the2012–13 Eredivisie with 31 goals and was named Dutch Player of the Year.[25]
Michael Laudrup led Swansea to the Europa League and a top half finish in the Premier League
Swansea enjoyed initial success in Europe, beating Spanish sideValencia 3–0 at theMestalla Stadium in September 2013.[26] On 3 November 2013, Swansea lost the first Welsh derby in the Premier League to Cardiff City following a 1–0 defeat.[27] In February 2014, Laudrup was dismissed from the club, initially thought because of a poor run of form; however later investigation revealed financial impropriety involving Laudrup's agent Bayram Tutumlu.[28] DefenderGarry Monk, a Swansea player since 2004, was named as his replacement.[29] In Monk's first game in charge, Swansea beat Cardiff 3–0 at the Liberty Stadium on 8 February 2014.[30] Despite holdingRafael Benítez'sNapoli to a 0–0 draw in the first leg of theEuropa League Round of 32, Swansea exited the competition after losing 3–1 in the second leg at theStadio San Paolo on 27 February 2014.[31]
In January 2015, Wilfried Bony was sold to Manchester City for a record sale of £25 million, with add-ons reportedly leading to £28 million.[32] This deal eclipsed the record fee received from Liverpool forJoe Allen at £15 million.[32] At the time of the sale, Bony was the club's top scorer with 34 goals in all competitions, and the Premier League's top scorer for the 2014 calendar year, with 20 goals.[32][33] Swansea City finished eighth in the Premier League at the end of the2014–15 season with 56 points, their highest position and points haul for a Premier League season, and second highest finish in the top flight of all time.[34] During the season, they produced league doubles over Arsenal andManchester United, becoming only the third team in Premier League history to achieve that feat.[35]
On 9 December 2015, manager Garry Monk was sacked after one win in eleven matches.[36] The club, after a period withAlan Curtis as caretaker manager for the third time, chose the Italian formerUdinese Calcio coachFrancesco Guidolin. During the 2016–17 preseason, Swansea City came under new ownership by an American consortium led byJason Levien andSteven Kaplan, who bought a controlling interest in the club in July 2016.[37] ChairmanHuw Jenkins remained at the club.[37] On 3 October 2016, Guidolin was sacked and replaced by American coachBob Bradley. The selection of Bradley marked the first time a Premier League club had ever hired an American manager.[38] Bradley himself was sacked after just 85 days in charge; he won only two of his 11 games, conceded 29 goals, and left with a win percentage of just 18.1%.[39]
On 3 January 2017,Bayern Munich assistant managerPaul Clement agreed to take charge of the team, replacing Bradley.[40] During the remainder of the2016–17 season, Clement led Swansea to win 26 points from 18 games, securing their survival on 14 May.[41] Only three prior teams had climbed from bottom of the table at Christmas to escape relegation, and only one prior team was able to escape relegation while having three managers during a season.[42]
A poor first half of the2017–18 season saw Swansea sitting bottom of the table after 18 league games, which led to Clement being sacked on 20 December 2017, leaving the club four points adrift of safety.[43] Towards the end of his tenure, Clement was criticised by a section of Swansea supporters for playing "boring" and "negative" football, questioning his tactical decisions with the Swans being the lowest scorers in the Premier League at the time of his sacking.[44][45][46] He was replaced by Portuguese managerCarlos Carvalhal.[47] Despite consecutive league home wins againstLiverpool (1–0),[48]Arsenal (3–1),[49]Burnley (1–0),[50] andWest Ham (4–1),[51] Swansea were winless in their last nine league games (losing five) under Carvalhal, leaving them in 18th place on the final day of the season.[52] Swansea City were relegated on 13 May 2018, following a 2–1 defeat to already-relegatedStoke City.[52]
During the season, chairman Huw Jenkins and the club's American owners were criticised by Swansea fans and pundits for poortransfer windows and the firing of managers;[53]Alan Shearer blamed the Swansea board for moving away from the style of play found under previous managersBrendan Rodgers andRoberto Martínez.[52]
On 11 June 2018,Graham Potter was announced as the club's new manager, replacing Carvalhal.[54] On 2 February 2019, Huw Jenkins resigned as chairman amid increasing criticism over the club's sale to the American consortium in 2016 and the club's subsequent relegation from the Premier League.[55] He was replaced withTrevor Birch. The first season back in the Championship produced a 10th-place finish, including a quarter-final appearance in the FA Cup. However, Potter left at the end of the season to manage Premier League clubBrighton.[56] He was succeeded by formerEngland U17 managerSteve Cooper.[57] In September 2019, Cooper was namedEFL Championship Manager of the Month, with Swansea City sitting top of the table after an unbeaten first month; this was Swansea's best start to a season in 41 years.[58] On the final day of the season, Swansea beatReading 4–1 to finish sixth, moving into the play-offs ahead ofNottingham Forest ongoal difference,[59] but were later defeated byBrentford in the semi-final second leg.[60]
At the end of the 2020–21 season, Swansea finished 4th in the league and secured a play-off place for a second consecutive season.[61] Swansea progressed to the2021 EFL Championship play-off final after defeatingBarnsley 2–1 on aggregate, but lost to Brentford atWembley Stadium.[62] After Steve Cooper left the club,Russell Martin became head coach in 2021, leading the club to mid-table finishes before moving to Southampton in 2023.[63] The2023–24 season saw new managerMichael Duff dismissed after five months due to poor results and criticism of his tactics; his replacementLuke Williams guided the team to 14th place.[64]Luke Williams was sacked in February 2025 and Alan Sheehan was named caretaker manager.[65]
TheVetch Field was the home of Swansea City for 93 years
Before Swansea Town was established, children would play football on waste ground in which a plant, called "vetch" (a type of legume) was grown. The site was owned by Swansea Gaslight Company in 1912, but was deemed surplus to requirements at the Gas Company. So Swansea Town moved in when they were established in 1912.[66] The ground originally held 12,000, but hit its peak attendance of 32,786 in a1967 FA cup Fifth Round againstArsenal. The last league goal ever scored at the Vetch was scored byAdrian Forbes, on 30 April 2005, as Swansea beatShrewsbury Town 1–0.
With a rapidly deteriorating Vetch Field, Swansea looked to relocate. As Swansea and theOspreys did not have the capital to invest in a new stadium, theSwansea City Council and a developer-led consortia submitted a proposal for a sustainable "bowl" venue for 20,520 seats on a site to the west of the river on the site of theMorfa Stadium, which the Council owned. It was funded by a 355,000 ft retail park on land to the east of the river. The final value of the development being in excess of £50 million. On 23 July 2005, TheLiberty Stadium was officially opened as Swansea facedFulham in afriendly game.[67]
TheLiberty Stadium became Swansea City's home ground from 2005, and was renamed the Swansea.com Stadium in 2021
The Liberty Stadium capacity was 20,532 though has been increased to 21,088.[68] The highest attendance recorded at the stadium came againstArsenal on 31 October 2015 with 20,937 spectators,[69] beating the previous record of 20,845. The stadium has also hosted threeWelsh international football matches; the first being a 0–0 draw withBulgaria in 2006,[70] the second a 2–1 defeat toGeorgia in 2008 and a 2–0 win overSwitzerland on 7 October 2011. The first international goal to be scored at the Liberty Stadium was a 25-yard effort from Welsh internationalJason Koumas.[71]
On 1 July 2012, it was widely reported in national media that Swansea City were beginning the planning phase for expanding the Liberty Stadium by approximately 12,000 seats. This plan would be conditional on a successful second season in the Premier League and could cost up to £15 million; the increase would result in a capacity of approximately 32,000 seats.[72] Later that same year, the board of directors announced that planning applications were to be put forward to the council authority, making the Liberty Stadium the largest sportsclub-owned stadium in Wales.[73]
The Liberty Stadium was renamed the Swansea.com Stadium on 9 August 2021, following a 10-year naming rights agreement.[74]
Swansea City's main rivals areCardiff City, with the rivalry described as among the most hostile in British football.[75] Matches between these two clubs are known as theSouth Wales derbies and are usually one of the highlights of the season for both sets of supporters. It was only from the late 1960s that the rivalry became marked. Before then fans of the two clubs often had a degree of affection for their Welsh neighbouring team.[76]
Swansea City's other rivals areNewport County and to a lesser extentBristol City andBristol Rovers. However, Swansea very rarely meet Newport as they are currently separated by two divisions, while the two clubs share a mutual rivalry with Cardiff City.
Swansea have won 42 of the 115 competitive meetings, compared to Cardiff's 45, who also have the biggest result between the two sides with Swansea losing 5–0 in 1965, with a further 28 drawn; neither team had done the double, until the 2021–22 season where Swansea had completed the first ever double in the 110 year rivalry, beating Cardiff 3-0 and 0–4 home and away. Following Swansea City's promotion to the Championship, the clubs were drawn in theLeague Cup which would be the first meeting between both sides for nine years.[77] Swansea City won the tie with a solitary goal from a deflected free-kick taken byJordi Gómez. The match saw sets of supporters from both clubs clash with police after the match.[78] The next two league games both finished in 2–2 draws.[79][80] However, the derby game atNinian Park was marred with controversy as refereeMike Dean was struck by a coin from a Cardiff City supporter.
In the 2009–10 season, Swansea beat Cardiff 3–2 at the Liberty Stadium in November, before losing 2–1 in Cardiff in April after a lateMichael Chopra strike. With Swansea and Cardiff both pushing for promotion to thePremier League, the first derby at the newCardiff City Stadium, and the first Cardiff win in nine meetings between the sides, was billed as being the biggest South Wales derby of all time, in respect to the league positions of the teams and how close it came to the end of the season. Despite their promising league positions leading up to the derby, neither side gained promotion at the end of that campaign, and so the South Wales derby was once again played out at Championship level during the 2010–11 season – Swansea beating Cardiff 1–0 away with a late winner from then on-loanMarvin Emnes before losing their home game due to a late strike fromCraig Bellamy.
Following Swansea's promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2010–11 season, the South Wales derby was again put on hiatus. It would be two seasons before the sides met once more, this time on the worldwide stage of the Premier League. On 3 November 2013, Cardiff took the bragging rights in the first ever Premier League South Wales derby, enjoying a 1–0 win courtesy of ex-SwanSteven Caulker at the Cardiff City Stadium. The return fixture for that season took place on 8 February 2014 at Swansea's Liberty Stadium, a match in which interim player-manager Garry Monk would make his managerial debut following the sacking of Michael Laudrup. The Swans took revenge for the defeat earlier in the season with a convincing 3–0 win.
The sides met again during the 2019–20 season in theEFL Championship; Swansea won 1–0 in the first fixture at the Liberty Stadium. In the 2020–21 season, Jamal Lowe scored a brace in a 2-0 Swansea win.[81] In October 2021, Swansea won 3–0 against Cardiff.[82] Later in the season, Swansea beat Cardiff 4–0 in the reverse fixture; Swansea became the first side to complete the league double in the derby's 110-year history.[83]
People from Swansea are nicknamed Jacks, a nickname also associated with the football club. According toSwansea University history professor Martin Johnes, Jack was a nickname for sailors, who would be described in other cities by their hometown, hence "Swansea Jack". A famed local canine lifeguard in the 1930s was coincidentally namedSwansea Jack, helping popularise the name further. Johnes said that the association of the Jack nickname with Swansea's people and football club is evident from after World War II.[84]
Swansea's crest for the 2021–22 season, based on a design used until 1998. The background colour was altered to light blue in 2022–23 before the 1998 design was reinstated.
Upon foundation in 1912, Swansea Town adopted white shirts and shorts due toSwansea RFC, arugby union team.[85] Secondary colours on the home kit have predominantly been black, with orange in the 1960s and red in the 1990s and 2000s.[86] In 2012–13, the club celebrated their centenary with a gold-trimmed kit and a commemorative crest.[87]
When new owners Silver Shield took over in 1998, they changed the club crest as the bird on it was not universally recognisable as a swan, and the background was blue, the colour of rivals Cardiff City.[88] In 2021, to mark the 40th anniversary of the club's first promotion to the top flight in 1981, Swansea City reintroduced the badge that had preceded the 1998 design. Though it was not used on kits until the 1990s, it was used on stationery and merchandise in the 1980s.[89] The 1998 crest was reintroduced to kits in 2023.[90]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Shareholders who own 10% or more of the issued share capital include Andy Coleman, Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen (through Swansea Football LLC),Nigel Morris, and Swansea City Supporters Society Ltd.
Andy Coleman Nigel Morris Brett Cravatt Jason Cohen Tyler Morse George Popstefanov Chris Sznewajs Martin Morgan Paul Meller (Supporter Director) Todd Marcelle
John Toshack managed Swansea between 1978 and 1984
There have been forty-four permanent managers (of whom six have been player-managers), and fourcaretaker managers of Swansea City since the appointment of the club's first professional manager,Walter Whittaker in 1912.[111][112] In the club's first season, Whittaker led Swansea to their firstWelsh Cup win.[66] The club's longest-serving manager, in terms of tenure, wasHaydn Green, who held the position for eight years, four months and 14 days, spanning the entirety ofWorld War II.[113]Trevor Morris, who oversaw the most games at Swansea, was also the first manager to lead a Welsh club in Europe, qualifying for the1961–62 Cup Winners' Cup.[66][114]
John Toshack, Swansea City's most successful manager with three league promotions and threeWelsh Cup wins, led the club to their highest league finish, sixth place in the1981–82First Division.[66] Appointed in February 1996, the DaneJan Mølby became Swansea City's first foreign manager and took Swansea to the 1996–97Division Three play-off final, only to lose to a last-minute goal.[66][115] In 2011, Swansea City achieved promotion to thePremier League underBrendan Rodgers, becoming the first Welsh team to play in the division since its formation in 1992.[116] During Swansea City's centenary year (2012–13), the club won theLeague Cup for the first time underMichael Laudrup, the first major trophy in Swansea's 100-year history.[117]
Gylfi Sigurðsson is Swansea's most expensive sale; he was the club's top scorer in the Premier League, with 34 goals[22]
Wilfred Milne holds the record for Swansea appearances, having played 586 matches between 1920 and 1937, closely followed byRoger Freestone with 563 between 1991 and 2004.[118] The player who has won the most international caps while at the club isAshley Williams with 50 forWales.
The goalscoring record is held byIvor Allchurch, with 166 goals, scored between 1947 and 1958 and between 1965 and 1968.[119]Cyril Pearce holds the records for the most goals scored in a season, in1931–32, with 35 league goals in theSecond Division and 40 goals in total.[66]
The club's widest victory margin was 12–0, a scoreline which they achieved once in theEuropean Cup Winners Cup, againstSliema in 1982.[66][120] They have lost by an eight-goal margin on two occasions, once in theFA Cup, beaten 0–8 byLiverpool in 1990 and once in theEuropean Cup Winners Cup, beaten 0–8 byAS Monaco in 1991.[121] Swansea's 8–1 win againstNotts County in the FA Cup in 2018 is their largest winning margin of the competition, and the largest winning margin at their home ground, theLiberty Stadium.[122]
Swansea's home attendance record was set at the fourth-round FA Cup tie againstArsenal on 17 February 1968, with 32,796 fans attending theVetch Field.[66][123] The club broke their transfer record to re-signAndré Ayew fromWest Ham United in January 2018 for a fee of £18 million.[124] The most expensive sale isGylfi Sigurðsson who joinedEverton in August 2017 for a fee believed to be £45 million.[125][126]
^Jones, Colin (2012).Swansea Town & City Football Club: The Complete Record, 1912–2012. From Southern League to Premier League (1st ed.). Dinefwr Press Ltd. pp. 1–8.ISBN978-1904323-26-6.
^Jones, Colin (2012).Swansea Town & City Football Club: The Complete Record, 1912–2012. From Southern League to Premier League (1st ed.). Dinefwr Press Ltd. pp. 109–137.ISBN978-1904323-26-6.
^Jones, Colin (2012).Swansea Town & City Football Club: The Complete Record, 1912–2012. From Southern League to Premier League (1st ed.). Dinefwr Press Ltd. p. 245.ISBN978-1904323-26-6.
.jpg)
.svg){kind=logo}
.jpg)
.jpg)
