Jazz signs new contract, and Michu dreams of finishing his career at Oviedo

Swansea youth product Richards pens extension to contract which was due to expire in the summer

This is the news that young Jazz has penned a new three year deal which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2016. As reported here, Jazz is currently on loan at Crystal Palace, where he's impressed Eagles fans to the point that he's drawn comparisons with Nathaniel Clyne (recently departed for Southampton). Palace are one of a number of clubs who make up the chasing pack behind Cardiff, and still stand a more than realistic chance of gaining promotion. This could prove invaluable experience for Jazz, who will almost definitely be in the Europa League squad next season - as out of the 25 squad members four have to qualify as "home grown" - it's likely these four would be Richards, Ben Davies, and two others (Lee Lucas? Kyle Copp?).

Ashley "Jazz" Richards. Welsh.

Given what we've seen of Jazz Richards so far, I'd say his retention is more sensible business from the Swans. He's looked tidy when he's had the nod, particularly at right back, and given more experience I feel he could well end up an important squad player. Jazz himself was clearly happy to extend his stay at his hometown club, and hinted it wasn't the only offer on the table:

"I'm delighted to have signed a new contract at the club. Being a Swansea boy, I see my career at the club and I was very keen to commit my future to the Swans. By offering me a three-year contract, the club made me feel they have a plan for me. 

"There was interest from other clubs, but Swansea is where I want to be. Of course, it is very difficult to get into the team because of the quality of players we have, but I feel that I can return next season and push for my place in the manager's plans. 

"I played eight games in the Premier League last season, and I think I got stronger and my confidence grew with each match, so I know I have something to offer the manager and team. My loan spell at Palace is also proving very beneficial and enjoyable. 

"The plan is to finish the season strongly and try my best to get Palace into the Premier League, and then I'll return to Swansea and look to impress [manager] Michael Laudrup enough to be involved regularly in his first-team plans."        Jazz Richards

Michu dreams of finishing career at Real Oviedo

This is an interview translated from Grada360.com, where Michu was asked all and sundry. Sometimes speaking Spanish comes in handy...

Q: These are good times for Swansea.

A: Yeah, it's true. It's the best season in our history. This year is the anniversary, the club is 100 years old and they've just won the first title in their history. Not long ago they were in League One and now we're competing with the biggest teams there are.

Q: The club [Swansea] pulled one out of the hat with your signing. It's incredible the fee was 2.5million Euros given your season for Rayo Vallecano.

A. It's gone well. At the time it seemed right and it's true that it's gone very well. It helps the team are having a great season, hopefully it'll continue. 

Q: It's said that when Michael Robinson signed for Osasuna he looked at a map and couldn't find the city. What did you think when you got the offer from Swansea?

A: I did not know Wales but I knew they were here [Swansea]. Last year I saw lots of Swansea matches because I knew they were a team who tried to play football with Martinez, Rodgers, Sousa... there aren't many teams who play that way in England.When I was playing for Rayo I saw lots of Swansea games broadcast and the PL. They're a side who I always liked for their style of play.

Q: When Fernando Torres met his now team-mate John Terry, Terry kicked Torres and is rumoured to have said "Welcome to England". Have you experienced the same?

A: No, no, no. Sure, I had a couple of scuffles in my first few games but I've spoken lots of this competition; the people are more noble and never try to hurt you. An example was Santi Cazorla's "penalty". When he got back to the dressing room Wenger scolded him. ""Here it is shameful cheating, attempting to deceive the referee."

Michu doing his best early 90's boyband impression

Q: How do you remember your Premier League debut?

A: Better than I could have imagined. I went on the bus with Angel Rangel, and while you're a professional there's still some fear when you go somewhere new, and Rangel had said it was difficult to win away in the Premier League; how it was important to win your home games to stay in the league. We were at QPR, who'd spent a lot of money on players, and we'd gone wondering if we could come back with a point; the final result was 0-5 and I had the fortune of scoring the first two goals. I was joking with him [Rangel] on the way back saying "Yeah, it's so difficult to score goals away in the Premier League..."  but it did go really well; a dream debut.

I spent two nights humming "Stand By Me", from my presentation hazing...

Q: There was hazing?

A: Yeah I remember it perfectly. I'd met my team-mates in Heathrow because we'd spend 15 days of pre-season in America and the other Spaniards had warned me; "Hey, you're going to have to sing...". I was humming the song for two nights in bed - I was shaking! I hate public speaking, and I can't think of anything worse than having to sing in front of people. I don't think I'd have a problem with it now, but at the time you don't know anybody, have to sing in English and are sure it'll be a disaster. In the end I got around to it, sung "Stand By Me" and everyone clapped. 

Q: There are players [at Swansea] like Angel Rangel & Leon Britton, who have seen all the promotions [not quite but close!] of the team, and the captain Ashley Williams too. What have you learned from your English colleagues?

A: Yes, and they've had a lot of attention for it now [Britton, Rangel & Williams gaining multiple promotions]. I get on very well with everyone, but I was surprised that Leon Britton was playing one of the biggest games in the history of Swansea four or five years ago to avoid relegation to Conference (that is not a professional league) and last year was one of the best midfielders in the Premier. It strikes me how there can be players in League Two that years later can play in the Premier League at the highest level. I think in Spain it is hard to find.

Q: Three important contract renewals in the last few months: Rangel (2016), Laudrup (2015) and yours (2016). This should send out a calming message to fans...

A:  Next year we will play European competition and it is important to keep a core of players. Security is also very good for bringing in people that increase the level of the team and we'll try to have a more competitive team for next year, but in football you never know what can happen. P: Michael Laudrup has been named the best coach in the Premiership this season. What has brought the Dane in his career?

Q: Michael Laudrup has been named the best coach in the Premiership this season. What has he learned in his career?

A: He's one of the best coaches I've had, the confidence he places in you is tremendous, the most that can be. I've always said that if a player reaches a peak he must have the confidence of the coach and I have, playing virtually all the minutes and he has taught me many things. What is most significant about it is that he is a very quiet coach who leaves a lot of freedom for the player. He just corrects, gives some guidelines and is professional because at the end as you have a responsibility on the field. Also, I think that goes with his character and how he was as a football player, he has much imagination and tries to benefit everyone.

P: He's a mentor for you.

A: Yes [emphatic]. He's chosen me from the beginning. Many people would say, especially before: "Hey, you're going to Swansea, you're in Spain, weren't there other teams?". Maybe there was interest but for me Swansea went for me, and Laudrup went for me, and has shown week after week I was right to make the decision. For me he's one of the best coaches I've had.

Q: There has been much speculation about the interest of several teams in the Premier. Have you received offers from other clubs or just hearsay?

A: For me personally I have not received any. Right now I'm a free agent as it was two years ago. To move to another team has to be a negotiation through the club and I have to get a good proposal. To date I have not received anything although it is true that you talk with the team, there are rumors, but now I'm not aware of that because I would like to end the season as well as possible.

Q: Why did you decide to extend your contract to 2016?

A: Because I really like it here, and the team are improving very quickly. I feel like an important part of the club and I didn't have to think long. They're a side I find easy to get along with because they're very happy with me. The club have more money and I've signed a one year extension, it's not that long a deal/

Q: No English player would refuse to play for another club such as when you refused to move from Oviedo to Sporting Gijon?

A: [laughs] I've never hidden from it, I am from Oviedo and will be an eternal rival of Gijon... hard. Yes it was a good proposal, but I preferred to stay at Oviedo because I was also an important part of that team. I'd like to get to the top of football, everybody would like to play in top teams compete for titles every season but now I'm not thinking about it, I'm so comfortable at Swansea and only think Sunday after Sunday.

Q: The team is living a dream but also so are the fans . What have you learnt about the British fans...they say the sounds are unforgettable.

A: It's true. I was fortunate to play in La Liga and it's true that it's very different over here. Many fans travel to the away games and when we play at home the stadium is always full...overfull. I personally love it when the stands are signing, I'm on the grass and it encourages you to keep going, or finish a footrace you didn't think you had in you, if only for the people singing. British football is spectacular.

Q: Many Spanish players are making the jump to the Premier League.

A: I think now the PL...yes it is a little above La Liga but it is beyond doubt they are the two best leagues in the world. I think economics is also a factor and obviously Spain is going through a major crisis and there's no money for salaries, signings etc... so it looks like players will keep coming from the Spanish league.

Q: It has been stated that the best coaches move to the Premiership with ( 47 percent of the vote on this site). Are you enjoying football more than before?

A: I enjoyed last year too. What a year! I suffered a lot in the last 10 games for Rayo but we were saved at the last minute; but here I'm enjoying it. At this point, we're already safe, have won the first title in the history of the club and for me personally so far it's been a pretty good season, playing a lot of minutes. Coaches voting for me [as best signing] is the greatest honour you can have.

Q: You have a very recognisable goal celebration...

A: It's a gesture itself, I've done it since last year. There has been several stories in my career ... sometimes rival supporters not have been good ... I can give an example. I played with Rayo for promotion to the First Division and missed a penalty that would have got us into the final to play against Elche,  ... and well, the Granada fans went crazy. I was itching to play them the next year with Rayo fans there and the Granada were there laughing at me in the heat: singing "Michu pulls another penalty!, Thanks for everything!" They were laughing at me but I lucky and got the goal to make it 0-1 and win the game. So it is a gesture of anger, because it's so easy to laugh at someone but when I put that goal, at that time there was no one in the stadium who could say anything, They had to eat their words.

Q: After the success you've had as a forward, would you like to return to your old position?

A: It's the best news I could hope for. For my characteristics I feel better because I think one of my best features is my arrival from the second row, surprising defenders and playing behind the central striker. You have more room as it's more complicated [playing as a striker] to score or participate in the game, but I've always said that while out among the first eleven ... if I have to wear gloves and try to stop the goals then I will!

Q: Obviously, Vicente Del Bosque will not judge your performance by a single match, but unluckily the day the coach went to watch a game of Swansea did not turn out to be your best game. Do you think this could have any influence on the decision of the coach?

A. I do not know. It could have been a good game for us, it was fertile ground for Swansea and a good game with Everton loomed. What I said before, there are many teams that practice another type of football and that works for them, playing long ball to Fellaini, and Goodison Park was not in the best condition at the time. It didn't go well for Michu or Swansea. We got an important point because we tied to zero and that is a difficult, but it is true that I did not have my best day. I do not think you can judge a player by a game or by the game that he had.



Michu celebrates his goal against Arsenal



Q: If you end up getting selected, will you do something special?
A: I have not thought about it. For me it would be bigger because wearing the Spanish shirt means you would be wearing the shirt of the best team in the world. They're now double European champion and world champion and I think it's very difficult. Sure it would feel crazy and I'd call my parents because any child starting to play football in Spain or for any team would love to play for their country.The most you can hope for in your career is to wear the shirt of your country and right now that team is the best in the world. It's complicated and I concentrate on work here every day and try to further increase my level of performance.

Q: Several examples of Oviedo's youth team are playing in the PL (Mata, Michu, Cazorla)...is Adri the next one?

A:  Yes! Adri is a very important player for Atletico Madrid and hopefully I can persuade him to come here [The Premier League] because I also believe that competition is conducive to improvement... but hey, last year he had a great season and won the Europa Leguge with Atletico Madrid.

Q: Those who saw you play in the Asturian youth team say you were the star of that team. However, it's taken a while for your career to get going. Why do you think that is?

A: I do not think anyone was to blame. As I said before, I think that the player needs to reach his highest level and have the confidence of the coach and I had four years in Vigo without enjoying the full confidence of any of the coaches, and I had many. Yes it is true that I had bad games, but I played pretty regularly. I remember my last year at Celta. I'd just signed a new contract and my first start was on January 2. There are moments that are hard for a player, you just contract,  seeing you don't matter, and it's true that Celta made a spectacular start to the season - but it was hard to watch from the sidelines and I knew I didn't have the confidence of the coach. I was fortunate to sign for next year Rayo and I played 37 games of 38(only missing one game through suspension), and that's where you can give your maximum level. We were saved, I had a good season also with a very humble team, and got fifteen goals that helped me to make the jump and win this move to Swanse... And I'm still scoring goals ... Then we'll see.

Q: Who is Michu - the player who started off at the Real Oviedo youth team?

A: I think my best attributes are humility and workrate. To me it has been very difficult to reach the highest level, nobody has given me anything and if I did it is because I've had difficult moments, away from home, and away from his family and friends. I've never thrown the towel in and have always gone with the maximum effort into the next workout, perhaps not knowing that Sunday I would start for the first XI, and ultimately I'd done too much to be any use. I think that's what's left of that boy. When I was a boy I used to get a train to games, and I'd have my backpack with me and I was so excited. I've also been lucky to have selected for the Asturan team,  but I have always tried to train like my team-mates, and be at the same level as them, and I think that's what's led me here.

Q: Can you imagine going back to Oviedo and the team playing in Europe within five years, in a style simliar to what has happened in Swansea? The new investment group that's taken over seem confident.
A: I wish! It would be my dream to go back to Oviedo at the top and retire there because it's my home, because it's my team and because I feel so loved there. Right now I see it as a little distant because they are still in Segunda Division B, have to go up and I'm currently enjoying the Premier League. Next year, God willing, will be my first year in Europe ... and I see everything as a bit far off but my dream would be to retire at Oviedo.

Tiendalli relaxed over new contract, and Swansea take ex-Man Utd youngster Kenji Gorre on trial

Dwight adopts a typically Dutch (I know he was born in Surinam) attitude over whether he'll extend his stay in South Wales

Following yesterday's news that Laudrup wouldn't be drawn on talk of a new contract for Tiendalli, the player himself was asked if he'd like to extend his stay at the Liberty, and responded with the verbal equivalent of a "shrug of the shoulders". It seems he's more than willing to open talks over a new contract, but at the same time given his solid level of performance this season he knows he won't be short of an offer in the summer:

Tiendalli up against Suarez earlier in the season

Dwight Tiendalli: "I like it here and my family like it here. I like the boys - they joke a lot with me - and if the club want me to stay for a couple of years, then of course we have to discuss it, but I am not thinking about that now. I have played a couple of good games which I am happy about, but for me there is no rush. I am just focusing on the games and on training and we will see after that. 

"So far I have not heard anything from the club, but we will see what happens. I am not a player who says my agent has to talk to the club or anything like that. For me there's no rush - I just wait. If the club come, they come, if they don't come, they don't come. 

"It's not up to the player to go to the club, it's up to the club. The important thing for me is that I can look back at my games here and feel that I played well."

Tiendalli signed on a one year contract after Neil Taylor suffered an horrific ankle injury early in the season, so he can be forgiven if he hasn't completely committed to the idea of an extended stay; however if it were up to me I'd definitely be considering offering him a new deal. A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush and all that, and the Swans have shown time and time again that if you have a player who understands how the team work, and fits into the fabric of the squad well, then it is prudent to retain that player.

There's no guarantee that any signing we make will pay off, so when it does, it's important to tie those players down, and Tiendalli has let no-one down this year with a series of hardworking displays - impressive in his willingness to get forward as much as his defensive exploits. I'd have no objection to at least a one-year extension, and I think he's done enough to deserve that. As I mentioned yesterday, Jazz Richards has done well on loan at Crystal Palace (see a report on his loan here) so it's possible Laudrup wants to look at him on his return before making a decision, but with Palace's involvement in the play-offs a distinct possibility it may be that it'll be a while yet before he returns to South Wales.

Swans take ex-Man Utd youth player Kenji Gorre on trial

Kenji Gorre - A name one Man Utd fan thought
sounded like "A Japanese slasher movie"

This is the news that 18 year old winger Kenji Gorre - son of ex-Huddersfield & Barnsley winger Dean Gorre - has been released by Manchester United and is currently on trial with Swansea City, after a spell with Celtic earlier this month. 

Gorre started his footballing career with a brief spell for Manchester City, but he switched the blue of City for the red of United before he even got to comprehensive-school age. Gorre has been held in high regard throughout his career; given an Adidas sponsorship at 14, he was then the subject of interest from Frank Arnesen and Chelsea but ultimately he remained at Old Trafford - with his form for the youth team leading to a callup from the England u-15 squad. I can't find any info, but he's since played for the Dutch u-16 side, so I'm guessing he didn't actually feature for the England side...

Regarded as a tricky winger, his role the past two seasons has mainly been that of a super-sub, and Man Utd fans online have said that they feel his all-around game isn't up to the standard of other youth players in the squad - which is possibly harsh given his goal return which has remained high for both the u-16 and u-18 sides, despite a lack of starts. He has now, however, been told he can seek fresh pastures and it seems he's been training with the Swans for a couple of days at least, given his involvement in Monday night's u-21 win over Bristol City - where the Swans development side came from two goals down to win 3-2. The Swans went in at half time level thanks to goals from Kurtis March & Rory Donnelly, before the apparently in-form Josh Sheehan grabbed the only goal of the second half to secure the win.

It remains to be seen how Gorre fits into the squad, or if he makes the grade, but the news that the Swans are looking to add youth to the squad is always a good thing, especially if it's not going to cost them any money. I may get a chance to pop over to the Landore training base to have a look, and if I don't we'll have to rely on any tidbits fed to us by the club, but it'll be interesting to see whether young Kenji does enough to secure himself a contract for next season. 

The Rangels host a charity night, and Laudrup on Tiendalli

Angel & Nikki Rangel set to host charity night in aid of Severn Hospice, Maggies Cancer Caring Centres & Kids Cancer Charity

Does what it says on the tin really. The Rangels found themselves in the spotlight of the national media at the tail end of last year, when, after grabbing some food at a local sandwich bar, the owner remarked he would be throwing out a lot of leftover food, and what a shame that was. Rangel proceeded to tweet;

Angel Rangel spots some food going spare

 ""Anyone knows the location of homeless people in Swansea? I got food going spare! #randomtweet"

They then spent over an hour driving around Swansea, which was in the middle of a snow-laden cold snap, looking for homeless people with whom to share the food, until they received a response to their tweets from a homeless charity. They said they now plan to repeat their goodwill mission on a regular basis. Rangel shied away from the credit, saying it was actually his wife's idea to donate the food to the local homeless population;

"My wife, Nikki, who is a very caring and charitable person, asked if we could have them for the homeless rather than see them thrown in the bin.They agreed and we drove around Swansea for over an hour, but couldn't find any homeless people as it was so cold out on the streets with all the snow." Angel Rangel

This is why the news that Nikki & Angel Rangel are putting on a charity night at the Liberty Stadium won't come as a surprise to many, given their previous, and it's clearly something that's close to their hearts. The night itself is on April the 10th, and Rangel has been heavily promoting the event himself on Twitter, with one of the prizes on offer being his personal box (for 8 people) for the Manchester City game. I haven't heard of many footballers doing that kind of thing, but maybe it goes unnoticed unless you're a fan of the club in question. Tickets for the event are £40, and for more information contact Nikki on 07506 169633.

Ipswich player gives tickets to "skint" fan after responding to tweet

Tyrone Mings

Continuing with the goodwill theme, did anyone hear about young Ipswich Town player Tyrone Mings? This really is a story to warm the heart of any football fan. Before the home game against Bolton, Mings tweeted the usual pre game "big game today yayaya" but what happened afterwards was remarkable. One fan tweeted wishing him luck, saying he couldn't make the game as he was skint and Mings immediately responded by offering the fan two tickets, as long as he could get to Portman Road to pick them up. The fan, Tris Monk (people have good names in Ipswich!) subsequently enjoyed watching his team beat Bolton 1-0. Great story.

Laudrup coy on Tiendalli future

Tiendalli battles with Man Utd's Patrice Evra

In a press conference recently, Laudrup was pressed on the future of the Surinam-born Dutchman, but refused to be drawn on talks of contracts and the like. Laudrup instead simply stated that he'd been pleased by Tiendalli's involvement with the squad, describing him as important:

“Dwight’s been important for us. Maybe he’s had his best games at right back not at left because being a right footed left back is very different, but I have been pleased with his work. We brought him in to help Ben because my intention was not to put all the pressure on a young player knowing you have one player in one position. Ben has coped fantastically with it.” Michael Laudrup

I've been impressed with Tiendalli. He's very much in the Rangel mould, and short of any vastly better acquisition, I don't think we should release him. Taylor's reintroduction into the squad still isn't complete, and it remains to be seen whether Jazz will make the step up to regular first team football for the Swans, so Tiendalli and Rangel are the only real natural options for the Swans at the moment - and both have performed well this season.

Even when Taylor returns to the fold I'd like to see Dwight retained for at least another year, as he seems a positive addition to the squad. His work rate in attack and defence can't be questioned, and he has had games where I found myself wanting to describe him as "marauding" - albeit if on a few of those occasions the end product wasn't quite there. Still, for free, and with a pedigree which includes spells at Ajax and Feyenoord, he's been a quality bit of business. As I've said, unless they've got someone lined up for the right-back spot to challenge Rangel, or Laudrup is expecting Jazz to challenge next season, it seems prudent to tie down Dwight for at least another year. With the season coming to an end you'd expect an announcement soon, so it seems just a case of waiting for an announcement now. Fingers crossed!

Craig Bellamy: "Swansea have educated us all. Swansea have lit the light"

In an emotional interview discussing the Welsh team's result, Bellamy shows how highly Swans are regarded.

In the aftermath of Wales again coming from behind to snatch a 2-1 win over Scotland, a clearly very emotional Craig Bellamy was interviewed, and gave a clear indication that Swansea have proven to be a strong influence on the football of the national side. 

Craig Bellamy: I used to think he was a
how's-your-father, however it turns out
he gives millions to charity. Top chap.

It's long been stated (and long been ignored) that to build a successful national team you need two things; a core of players who know each other very well, and an established playing style. Toshack started to develop this kind of policy, however Robbie Savage and his media bloodhounds soon put paid to that, but in fairness Gary Speed was doing an outstanding job. Four wins out of five is a far cry from the Wales we've become used to in recent times, and the squad did seem to have turned a corner. 

The continuation of blooding young players will ultimately pay dividends for Wales. You only have to look at Greece, who won the European Championship in 2004, to realise that you don't need a squad full of world-beaters to beat the best players in the world, you just need the best squad. That being said, I wouldn't kick Gareth Bale out of the squad, he's alright like. 

The adoption of a Swansea-esque playing style will ultimately benefit the national team, as players coming into the squad will know what they are expected to do, however Bellamy namedropping both the Swans, and former Swansea defender Chris Coleman like this must irk some Cardiff fans.  

"Swansea have educated us all. Swansea have lit the light,"

"We had an incredible human being [Gary Speed] who came into our national squad as manager and wanted to emphasise that. 

"Cookie [Chris Coleman] is trying to do the same as well and trying to deliver the same philosophy We've gone this way with our football in the last few years. 

"We were left a legacy by an incredible human being and we've followed that through, which makes me even more proud that… we represent him [Speed] every time we play. 

"I'm not emotional. I'm just proud." Craig Bellamy

Sounds just a little emotional, if you ask me.

Discussing Scotland's opener Bellamy indicated there's still work to be done on the training ground;

"Another set piece which we need to do something about - that's eight set pieces now we've conceded in this group; We can't do that, and I said at half time, 'if we lose, we lose'. 

"The philosophy of the football is playing football and keeping the ball. I can take a loss. I can walk off, as long as my head's held high and I'm passing the ball like that, I'll lose. If that's not good enough, then it's not good enough."

I don't think it can be emphasised enough just how impressed I am by the acceptance of this philosophy by the Wales set-up. For so long it's seemed archaic, resistant to change and indicative of everything that's wrong with "old boy networks" and "the top brass" - but it seems Gary Speed's tenure has left a legacy which has revitalised Wales, even if there was an understandable dip in performance levels following his tragic death.

Gareth Bale, or, as he's come to be known recently,
"Tottenham Hotspur".

The 15 year old Swansea fan in me simply likes the fact that a Cardiff-born Cardiff player saw fit to say "Swansea lit the light", but in truth it resonates more deeply than that. Swansea have lit the light, and Bellamy isn't alone in waxing lyrical about the Swans. Ferguson went on record as saying that Swansea are his "team of the season" (with Michu being his bargain of the season to boot) and Laudrup was recently voted "most impressive manager" by the League Manager's Association, so the superlatives have been flowing fairly freely of late.

The Swans must, of course, guard against complacency in the run in. All but mathematically safe from relegation and with European football secured, some teams would ease up down the final run-in, but with transfers expected and Laudrup on record as wanting to trim his squad, most of the Swansea squad are playing for their futures. There's probably a handful of players (Ash, Chico, Taylor, Davies, Britton, Ki, Michu, Routledge, Hernandez, Dyer) who can consider themselves safe but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw one or two shock departures.

Next up are Spurs, and with (international players aside) both squads enjoying an extended rest & recuperation period it's likely we're going to see an electric ninety minutes of football.

One final note is that Gareth Bale aggravated an ankle injury against Scotland and failed to reappear for the second half. If he fancies giving it a go for Wales against Croatia, I've no objection to him picking up a little harmless niggle which rules him out of the Swans game whatsoever...

When was the last time Swansea sacked their manager?

With the current shambolic state that football management finds itself in, I thought I'd have a look back through Swansea City's managerial past to find out who was the last manager we actually asked to leave.

Firstly, anyone who knows anything about Swansea City will know that the last few managers have all moved on for, they thought, bigger and better things. While it's possibly worked out well for the most recently departed manager, it's not always gone so smoothly, and I've produced a breakdown of the most recent Swansea bosses, with an aim to tracking backwards until we get to the manager who was actually asked to leave. 

I compiled quite a lot of information in doing this, and it threw up some interesting bits of trivia. Did you know, for example, that Swansea City haven't actually sacked a manager since Walter Smith was in charge of  Everton? Ok, we've changed managers multiple times however it hasn't been specifically at the behest of the board - even if Huw & co were jumping for joy when Paolo Sousa decided the grass was greener elsewhere (it wasn't, was it Paolo?).

Now, I haven't gone through the entire league system, but given that the only teams I've found in the Premier League who haven't sacked a manager since the Swans last did are Manchester United & Arsenal, it's likely there aren't any teams with a similar record below the PL. Man Utd & Arsenal are both freak situations and the longevity of their manager's respective careers is very unlikely to be replicated by any "modern" manager given the stresses and need for immediate success that exists within 21st century football. Below is a list of recent Swansea managers, dating back to the last time we sacked someone, followed by a breakdown of this season's Premiership clubs and exactly when it was they last sacked a manager (and who it was).

Michael Laudrup    17 June 2012 - Present

Laudrup: Consistently and
continentally cool.

Taking over from Rodgers was no walk in the park given the Swans impressive first season in the top-flight, however the legendary Dane has done so with aplomb - leading the team to their first major cup win (over Bradford in the League Cup final) as well as consolidating their position as a solid mid-table Premier League club. It remains to be seen what would happen if Laudrup received serious interest from a club such as Real Madrid or Chelsea, however given that he signed a new contract recently there's reason to be hopeful he'll be residing in South Wales for some time yet.

Brendan Rodgers   16 July 2010 - 1 June 2012  - Left for Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers: Smarter than you?
He thinks so.

Brendan came into a club which was, let's be honest, set up for how he wanted to play football. What's more, the squad had endured a year of Sousa-style football and were probably itching to actually try and score some goals, so Rodgers tika-taka approach will have been greeted with open arms. What Rodgers achieved is well known, revitalising the sqaud and using his contacts to bring in Scott Sinclair, who proved a catalyst in the Swans gaining promotion via the play-off final. A solid first season in the Premiership further enhanced Brendan's reputation, and he swiftly had his head turned by Liverpool, who were clearly going to win a trophy before the Swans did. 

Paolo Sousa     22 June 2009 - 5 July 2010   -  Left for Leicester City

Sousa: A better photographic subject
than he is a football manager?

Another aesthetically pleasing manager, Sousa carried the same sense of continental cool that Laudrup exudes: unfortunately their respective playing careers neatly illustrate the differences between the Dane and the Portugese. Laudrup was an exciting attacking threat, always capable of something unexpected - whereas Sousa was a defensive midfielder who, while extremely talented, derived a lot of his success from discipline and defensive positioning. This showed in the Swans football under Sousa, with Gorka Pintado regularly selected up front on his own; which led fans to ask whether Pintado was actually being selected due to his defensive work rate. 

When you've only got one striker, he needs to be scoring goals, and a frustrating season of ultra-negative football (albeit one where our defence improved massively) ended with Sousa leaving by mutual consent to take the vacant managerial post at Leicester, owned by Milan Mandaric. Whether it had anything to do with the bucketfuls of money Leicester were rumoured to have ready to throw around we can't say, however Paolo was sacked only three months into the new season - with only one win on the board.

Roberto Martinez    24 February 2007 - 15 June 2009   -  Left for Wigan Athletic

"Connor McManaman? Nah, it was never a red"

Roberto Martinez has become synonymous with both the creation of "The Swansea Way", and also with good, passing football. While playing for Chester City in League Two he got a call from Swansea City (Martinez played for Swansea in their famous win over Hull which secured continued professional football) and was persuaded to hang up his boots to embark on a new chapter in his career: that of the manager. Much has been made of his father's experience in a similar role, but in truth Martinez is his own man having had to adapt to a very different style of football - he's developed his own methods which have, up until now at least, seen him perform minor miracles (at Wigan in particular).

Heralded as the starting point of Swansea's "tika taka" style, Martinez certainly put the emphasis on short, neat passing however the reality is you can trace the footballing philosophy back further than Martinez, even if he was preceded by...

Kenny Jackett   5 April 2004  -  15 February 2007   -  Left by mutual consent

Kenny Jackett: Perpetually squinty.

Kenny Jackett has sometimes had a bad rap from Swansea fans, and a look at some statistics indicates this may not necessarily be warranted. It all depends which way you look at it really - results wise Kenny brought a steadiness to the club and a record of played 163; won 75; lost 48; drawn 40 isn't something to be sniffed at. Where Jackett struggled, however, was player acquisition. He continually spent big on players who, ultimately, turned out to be a massive waste of money. Rory Fallon and Leon Knight cost almost half a million pounds combined, and when you look at players we've subsequently picked up for the same kind of (or even less) money it's clear those deals weren't the best for the club - even if Jackett managed to recoup the 300k spent on Fallon when he was sold to Plymouth Argyle.

Jackett continued to take more and more flack from the media regarding results which were below those expected for a team who'd laid out the kind of money the Swans had, and also a perceived "negative and direct" playing style. Whether this was the case is up for debate, however Fallon in particular served to typify the frustrations felt by Swansea fans and eventually Jacket felt enough was enough, leaving with immediate effect.

Brian Flynn      19 September 2002 - 18 March 2004     Left by mutual consent

Brian Flynn is a man who deserves enormous credit for Swansea's eventual rise to fame. In charge for THAT game against Hull, Flynn also signed Leon Britton (originally on loan), Alan Tate, Andy Robinson, and a certain Lee Trundle. The impact those players would go on to have for the Swans was impossible to predict, however Flynn clearly had, and still has, an eye for an emerging talent. 

Flynn can justifiably feel harshly treated by the Swans, as after an impressive couple of seasons, where he steadied the boat before the Swans started to push up the table. Unfortunately for Flynn, poor results coincided with a rumoured dispute over where the manager actually lived: with rumours stating he was ultimately let go due to his refusal to move his family home from Cheshire to Swansea. Either way, fans must surely appreciate the hard work put in by Flynn, and how much the players he signed went on to do for the club.

Colin Addison      13 September 2001 - 7 Mar 2002   -  Sacked by Swansea City

Colin Addison: Looks like a
geography teacher.

Colin Addison came into the fold at Swansea City with a reputation something akin to that of a lower league Roy Hodgson. He'd been a respected player, and as a manager he'd been around the blocks - with it generally being accepted that he knew what he was talking about. He'd been manager of Scarborough & Derby, but his strongest ties are to Hereford - where after two spells as manager he's now regarded as somewhat of a legend - even having an area of the ground named after him! (Addison Court). Addison replaced the outgoing John Hollins (this has been a right trip down memory lane!) and brought his assistant Peter Nicholas with him. Nicholas was something of a Welsh football celebrity, having guided Barry Town through a period where they enjoyed yearly European sojurns - even if they were often on the end of a spanking. 

In truth Addison joined at a very turbulent time for Swansea City. Shortly after he took control from caretaker boss Nick Cusack, the club fell into the hands of Tony Petty - who proceeded to fly in and sack seven first team players. Not the ideal situation to find yourself in. Remarkably, Addison managed to guide the Swans to league safety by March, but, along with Nicholas, was summarily let go - and wasn't too pleased about it:

"Peter and I both knew the financial situation at Swansea. We knew the club had money problems and we would have listened to the committee about reduced contracts.  

"Swansea should have given us something. Look at John Cornforth at Exeter; That club has money problems like Swansea but they've just offered him a new two-year contract, but the Swansea committee didn't offer us anything. They just expected us to walk away. They wouldn't even let us take charge for the Carlisle game which was only 24 hours away. 

"They didn't even pay us the money they owe us - and don't forget, we were getting half of what they were paying our predecessors, John Hollins and Alan Curtis. They never gave us a cheque and said, 'Here you are, you've done a smashing job'. We've just joined the list with all the other creditors."  

"Four days before we were sacked I had achat with Huw Jenkins (committee member) and he said the club wanted us to stay, I told Peter and we both told our families the news. Huw said the decision was a unanimous one and that made the news even better. Then they just expected us to walk away. It's the biggest U-turn ever." 

It seems that Addison & Nicholas were harshly treated, but unfortunately life is unfair sometimes. Given what has unfolded since I haven't got it in me to find fault with Huw & the board's decision, as ultimately it's been vindicated (and then some!).

Getting back to the present day, it is a nice feeling knowing that the board of your football club are, realistically, one of the most sensible in the land - and long may that continue. Each managerial appointment, as detailed, has been well thought out and has brought whatever qualities they felt were needed to the fold. As Swansea fans, we know exactly what it's like to lose managers at the drop of a hat (maybe we were actually trend-setting a bit there) so this continued environment of sensible appointments is an ocean of calm in a sea of short-sighted knee-jerk reactions. What's more, it works. Continuity is key.

	Name	Date manager last sacked	Manager surname
	Arsenal	21/02/95	Graham
	Aston Villa	16/05/12	McLeish
	Chelsea	12/11/12	Di Matteo
	Everton	11/03/02	Smith
	Fulham	21/12/07	Sanchez
	Liverpool	16/05/12	Dalglish
	Manchester City	19/12/09	Hughes
	Manchester United	06/11/86	Ron Atkinson
	Newcastle United	06/12/10	Hughton
	Norwich City	14/08/09	Gunn
	Queens Park Rangers	10/11/12	Hughes
	Reading	01/03/13	McDermott
	Southampton	01/01/13	Adkins
	Stoke City	28/06/05	Pulis!
	Sunderland	30/11/11	Bruce
	Swansea City	08/03/02	Addison
	Tottenham Hotspur	13/06/12	Redknapp
	West Brom	01/02/11	Di Matteo
	West Ham	15/05/11	Grant
	Wigan Athletic	05/11/07	Hutchings

NB: If anyone is wondering about where Cusack & Freestone fit into this, I didn't include them as they were always temporary fixes. Cusack WAS removed as manager more recently than Addison, however he was offered another role within the club which he refused - so I'm not sure that counts as "sacking"...