Swansea City A.F.C.
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Redirect Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football club
Swansea City Association Football Club (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; Template:Langx<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>) is a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. They compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football. The club was founded in 1912 as Swansea Town but changed their name in 1970 to reflect Swansea's new status as a city.<ref name="Our managers"/> They have played their home matches at the Swansea.com Stadium (formerly known as the Liberty Stadium) since 2005, having previously played at the Vetch Field since their founding.
Swansea entered the Southern League in 1912 before joining the Football League in 1920. They won the Third Division South title in 1925 and 1949, but fell into the Fourth Division after relegations in 1965 and 1967. Swansea won three promotions in four seasons to reach the First Division in 1981, finishing sixth in the top flight (a club record), but were back in the Fourth Division by 1986. The club won the Third Division title in 2000 but narrowly avoided relegation to the Conference in 2003. They won their fourth league title in 2008 after winning League One.
In 2011, Swansea were promoted to the Premier League and won the League Cup two years later, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League. It was the first major trophy in the club's history; their other trophies include ten Welsh Cups, two Football League Trophies and two FAW Premier Cups. The club also qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup seven times between 1961 and 1991. They were relegated from the Premier League in 2018, and have since played in the Championship.
Swansea's climb from the fourth division of English football to the Premier League is chronicled in the 2014 film, Jack to a King – The Swansea Story. Several players have won caps for their country while playing for the club, including for the Wales national football team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Swansea City Supporters' Trust owns shares in the club;<ref name="Ownership statement"/> their involvement was hailed by Supporters Direct in 2012 as "the most high profile example of a supporters' trust in the direct running of a club".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
Early years (1912–1945)
Following an increasing interest in football in the Swansea area, the town's first professional football club, Swansea Town, was established in 1912.<ref name="Swans 100">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="On this day">Template:Cite web</ref> John William Thorpe, a local solicitor, was elected the club’s first chairman.<ref name="On this day"/> Players were recruited from around the United Kingdom and the team joined the Southern League Second Division under the club's first player-manager, Walter Whittaker.<ref name="Swans 100"/><ref name="On this day"/> Swansea joined several other clubs in the division, including Cardiff City, who were Swansea's first professional league opponents.<ref name="Swans 100"/> The match, played on 7 September 1912 at Swansea's Vetch Field, ended in a 1–1 draw with Billy Ball scoring Swansea's first goal.<ref name="Swans 100"/>
During their first season, Swansea won the Welsh Cup, the Welsh league and came third in the Southern League Second Division.<ref name="Our managers">Template:Cite web</ref> The following season, the club reached the first round proper of the FA Cup and finished fourth in the league.<ref name="Our managers"/> John William Bartlett took over from Whittaker in 1914.<ref name="Our managers"/> Under his leadership, the club beat reigning English champions Blackburn Rovers 1–0 in the first round of the 1914–15 FA Cup, with Swansea's goal coming from Ben Beynon.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
After the First World War, the football leagues were restructured and the club began to compete in the new Third Division of the Football League in 1920.<ref name="Swans 100"/> Swansea won their first championship in 1925 under manager Joe Bradshaw after winning the Third Division (South).<ref name="Our managers"/> The following season, they reached the semi-final of the FA Cup and finished fifth in the league.<ref name="Our managers"/><ref name="Swans 100"/> After Bradshaw left the club, Swansea were without a manager until 1927, when James Thompson was appointed.<ref name="Our managers"/> The club experienced financial strain over the next few years, with players being sold for cheaper alternatives; Thompson resigned in 1931.<ref name="Our managers"/> Despite this, Swansea won the Welsh Cup again in the 1931–32 season.<ref name="Swans 100"/> The club had further financial difficulties in the 1930s but avoided relegation under manager Neil Harris before the Second World War began.<ref name="Our managers"/>
Post-war (1945–1970)
.jpg){kind=link}
When football resumed after the war, Swansea were relegated to the Third Division in 1947 but were promoted back to the Second Division as champions in 1949.<ref name="Swans 100"/> During the following seasons, Swansea saw several young players break through to the senior team, including the club's eventual captain Ivor Allchurch.<ref name="Our managers"/><ref name="Swans 100"/> The club cultivated strong local support during this period, with high attendances at league games, such as a record home league attendance against Leeds United in 1955.<ref name="Swans 100"/> The club continued to struggle financially, however, but they again avoided relegation on the last day of the 1957–58 season.<ref name="Swans 100"/>
In 1960, Swansea played their first match in the League Cup and won the Welsh Cup the following year, qualifying for the Cup Winners' Cup. This made Swansea the first Welsh club to enter a European competition.<ref name="Swans 100"/> Manager Trevor Morris also led the club to the semi-final of the FA Cup in 1964, following a run which included a 2–1 away win against Liverpool in the quarter-final.<ref name="Swans 100"/><ref name="Our managers"/> Swansea were relegated back to the Third Division the following season and the financial situation at the club became critical.<ref name="Our managers"/>
Despite finishing seventeenth in the league under Glyn Davies, the club won the Welsh Cup again and qualified for their second European adventure.<ref name="Our managers"/> In 1967, however, the club were relegated to the Fourth Division, the first time in the club's history.<ref name="Our managers"/> Despite this, Swansea saw the highest attendance at the Vetch Field (32,796) for their game against Arsenal in the FA Cup in 1968, which Swansea lost.<ref name="Swans 100"/><ref name="Our managers"/> Tragedy struck the club in January 1969 when players Roy Evans and Brian Purcell were killed in a car crash on the way to a game.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Success and decline (1970–1986)
After Swansea became a city in 1969, the club changed their name to Swansea City in early 1970.<ref name="Our managers"/> Roy Bentley's side celebrated by securing promotion back to the Third Division.<ref name="Our managers"/> After mid-table finishes at the end of the following two seasons, the club made a poor start to the 1972–73 season, which saw Bentley being replaced by Harry Gregg. Gregg failed to stop the team's decline and the club was back in the Fourth Division for the 1973–74 season.<ref name="Our managers"/> He was replaced by Harry Griffiths, the club's physiotherapist who had also played for Swansea.<ref name="Our managers"/> Financial issues continued to plague the club and Swansea were forced to apply for re-election to the Football League.<ref name="Our managers"/><ref name="Swans 100"/>
Swansea failed to win promotion in 1977, and Griffiths resigned the following year despite a positive start to the season.<ref name="Our managers"/> He was replaced by John Toshack.<ref name="Our managers"/> Swansea were promoted in 1978, and Toshack led the club to the Second Division the following season and the First Division in 1981.<ref name="Swans 100"/> They beat Preston North End 3–1 to guarantee their promotion, with goals from Tommy Craig, Leighton James and Jeremy Charles.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Swansea Promotion Glory 1981">Template:Cite web</ref> Swansea's four-year rise to the top division became a record in English football, held jointly with Wimbledon F.C.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Swansea also won the Welsh Cup that season, qualifying for Europe for the first time since the 1965–66 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The club's first match in the top flight was a 5–1 win against Leeds United, and they also defeated Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United during the season.<ref name="Swansea City 1980s sports blog">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Our managers"/> Swansea were top of the league with twelve games to play, but finished sixth.<ref name="Swansea City 1980s sports blog"/> They won the Welsh Cup again to qualify for Europe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite being relegated to the Second Division the following season, Swansea enjoyed success in Europe after defeating Braga and winning 12–0 against Sliema Wanderers, a club record result.<ref name="Swans 100"/> Swansea were subsequently defeated by Paris-Saint Germain.<ref name="Swans 100"/> Amid financial pressures, Toshack left the club in October 1983, returned eight weeks later, but left Swansea again in 1984 with the team back in the Third Division.<ref name="Our managers"/>
By 1985, the club was battling for its survival and was issued a winding-up order.<ref name="Swansea City 1980s sports blog"/> Local people raised money for the club, and Manchester United played a friendly match which raised £45,000.<ref name="Swans 100"/> The club was saved by Peter Howard, Harry Hyde, Bobby Jones, Mel Nurse and Dave Savage (who came to be known as the "Famous Five"),<ref name="Swansea City 1980s sports blog"/> along with local businessman Doug Sharpe, although the change of ownership was not enough to prevent relegation to the Fourth Division in 1986.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Swansea City 1980s sports blog"/>
Promotions, relegations and last years at the Vetch Field (1986–2005)
Swansea were promoted from the Fourth Division in 1988 after winning the play-offs.<ref name="Our managers"/> The club won the Welsh Cup again in 1989 and 1991 to qualify for Europe.<ref name="Swans 100"/> After a period of relative stability, Swansea reached the play-off semi-finals of the new Second Division in 1993 before making their first appearance at Wembley Stadium a year later, when they defeated Huddersfield Town to win the Football League Trophy.<ref name="Our managers"/><ref name="Swans 100"/>
After Jan Mølby became player-manager, the club was relegated to the lowest division, although they made it to another Wembley play-off final in 1997, which they lost.<ref name="Our managers"/> Chairman Sharpe sold the club, and Swansea saw several managers during this period. Following another unsuccessful play-off semi-final in 1999, Swansea won the Third Division in 2000.<ref name="Swans 100"/> However, the 1–1 draw at Rotherham United, which confirmed Swansea as Third Division champions, was overshadowed by the death of supporter Terry Coles, who was trampled to death by a police horse before the game.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In July 2001, following relegation back to the Third Division, the club was sold to managing director Mike Lewis for £1.<ref name="Swans 100"/> One month later, the Swansea City Supporters' Trust was formed.<ref name="History of Swans Trust">Template:Cite web</ref> Lewis subsequently sold his stake to a consortium of Australian businessmen behind the Brisbane Lions football team, fronted by Tony Petty, again for £1.<ref name="History of Swans Trust"/> After supporter demonstrations against Petty's management, during which he attempted to sack seven players to cut costs, the club was sold to a local consortium led by Mel Nurse.<ref name="Petty era">Template:Cite web</ref> Huw Jenkins was named chairman in January 2002.<ref name="Huw Jenkins BBC 2023">Template:Cite web</ref>
Swansea were also struggling on the pitch. The new ownership sought to keep the team in the Football League, and Brian Flynn was named manager in late 2002.<ref name="Petty era"/><ref name="Our managers"/> With the signings of new players including Roberto Martínez and Leon Britton, Flynn kept Swansea in the Football League following their victory against Hull City on the last day of the 2002–03 season.<ref name="Huw Jenkins BBC 2023"/><ref name="Our managers"/> Despite a positive start to the following season, Kenny Jackett replaced Flynn in 2004.<ref name="Our managers"/> Jackett led Swansea to League One promotion in the club's final season at the Vetch Field.<ref name="Our managers"/> They also won the FAW Premier Cup on the last day at the Vetch.<ref name="Our managers"/>
Move to the Liberty Stadium and return to the top flight (2005–2016)
The club moved to the new Liberty Stadium in July 2005,<ref name="History of Swans Trust"/> with the first league game being a 1–0 win against Tranmere Rovers.<ref name="Swans 100"/> In the first season at the stadium, Swansea won the Football League Trophy for the first time since 1994 and the FAW Premier Cup for a second successive year.<ref name="Swans 100"/><ref name="Our managers"/> The club also reached the League One play-off final, but lost to Barnsley.<ref name="Our managers"/>
Roberto Martínez, Swansea's former captain, replaced Jackett as manager in 2007 mid-season.<ref name="Our managers"/> He led Swansea to Championship promotion as League One champions in 2008 while implementing a possession-based style of play at the club.<ref name="Our managers"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> When Martínez left Swansea in 2009, Paulo Sousa replaced him before leaving himself in 2010.<ref name="Our managers"/> Before Sousa's departure, Swansea player Besian Idrizaj suffered a heart attack while on international duty; the club retired the number 40 shirt in his memory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Brendan Rodgers replaced Sousa and led the club to the Premier League in 2011 after defeating Reading 4–2 in the play-off final, with Scott Sinclair scoring a hat-trick.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Swansea became the first Welsh team to play in the Premier League since its formation in 1992.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ahead of their debut season, the club signed Danny Graham from Watford for a then-record fee of £3.5 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They defeated Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, the eventual champions, at home during the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Swansea finished eleventh in the league, but Rodgers left to manage Liverpool at the end of the season.<ref name="Michael Laudrup">Template:Cite news</ref>
.svg){kind=link}
Rodgers was replaced by Michael Laudrup for the 2012–13 season, which was the club's centenary season.<ref name="Michael Laudrup"/> Laudrup's first league game ended in a 5–0 victory over Queens Park Rangers away at Loftus Road.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Swansea then beat West Ham United 3–0 at the Liberty Stadium, with Michu scoring his third goal in two games.<ref name="Swansea vs West Ham 2012">Template:Cite news</ref> This saw Swansea top of the Premier League; it was the first time since March 1982 the team had been at the summit of the top tier.<ref name="Swansea vs West Ham 2012"/><ref name="Swansea Promotion Glory 1981"/> After cup victories against Liverpool and Chelsea,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Swansea beat Bradford City 5–0 in the 2013 Football League Cup final, which was the biggest win in the final of the competition.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was Swansea's first major piece of silverware in England and qualified them for the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League. Swansea finished the Premier League season in ninth place,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Michu was the club's top scorer in all competitions with 22 goals.<ref name="Swansea Premier League Statistics">Template:Cite web</ref> That summer, they paid a club record transfer fee of £12 million for striker Wilfried Bony from Vitesse Arnhem.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Swansea enjoyed initial success in Europe, beating Spanish side Valencia 3–0 at the Mestalla Stadium in September 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Two months later, they lost the first Welsh derby in the Premier League to Cardiff City following a 1–0 defeat.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In February 2014, Laudrup was dismissed after poor form and accusations of financial impropriety involving his agent Bayram Tutumlu.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Defender Garry Monk, a Swansea player since 2004, was named as his replacement.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In Monk's first game, Swansea beat Cardiff 3–0 at the Liberty Stadium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite holding Rafael Benítez's Napoli to a 0–0 draw in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 32, Swansea exited the competition after losing 3–1 in the second leg at the Stadio San Paolo on 27 February 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Bony was sold to Manchester City for a record sale of £25 million in January 2015, with add-ons reportedly leading to £28 million.<ref name="Wilfried Bony">Template:Cite news</ref> This deal eclipsed the record fee Swansea received from Liverpool for Joe Allen at £15 million.<ref name="Wilfried Bony"/> At the time of the sale, Bony was the club's top scorer with 34 goals in all competitions, and the league's top scorer for the 2014 calendar year, with 20 goals.<ref name="Wilfried Bony"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Swansea finished eighth in the league at the end of the 2014–15 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the season, they produced league doubles over Arsenal and Manchester United, becoming only the third team in Premier League history to do so.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Monk was sacked the following season after poor form and replaced by Francesco Guidolin.<ref name="Our managers"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
American ownership and return to the Championship (2016–present)
In July 2016, an American consortium led by Jason Levien and Steven Kaplan bought a controlling interest in the club,<ref name="AmericanTakeover">Template:Cite news</ref> but chairman Huw Jenkins remained.<ref name=AmericanTakeover/> Three months later, Guidolin was sacked and replaced by Bob Bradley, which was the first time a Premier League club had hired an American manager.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bradley was sacked after 85 days; he won only two of his eleven games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was replaced by Paul Clement,<ref name="Clement">Template:Cite news</ref> who secured Swansea's Premier League status on 14 May.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Only three prior teams had escaped relegation after being bottom of the league at Christmas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A poor first half of the 2017–18 season saw Clement sacked and replaced by Carlos Carvalhal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news
Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
.jpg){kind=link}
Despite consecutive league home wins against Liverpool (1–0),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Arsenal (3–1),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Burnley (1–0),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and West Ham (4–1),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Swansea were winless in their last nine league games (losing five) under Carvalhal, leaving them in eighteenth place on the final day of the season.<ref name="Swansea 1–2 Stoke">Template:Cite news</ref> They were relegated on 13 May 2018, following a 2–1 defeat to already-relegated Stoke City.<ref name="Swansea 1–2 Stoke" /> During the season, Jenkins and the owners were criticised by supporters and pundits for poor transfer windows, the firing of managers, and moving away from the style of play found under previous managers Rodgers and Martínez.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Swansea 1–2 Stoke" />
The first season back in the Championship produced a tenth place finish under new manager Graham Potter,<ref name="Graham Potter">Template:Cite web</ref> including a quarter-final appearance in the FA Cup.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jenkins resigned as chairman amid increasing criticism over the club's sale to the American consortium in 2016 and relegation from the Premier League.<ref name="Jenkins Resigns">Template:Cite web</ref> After Potter left to manage Brighton,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> former England U17 manager Steve Cooper replaced him.<ref name="Cooper Swansea">Template:Cite news</ref> In September 2019, Swansea sat at the top of the table after an unbeaten first month; this was the club's best start to a season in 41 years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the final day of the season, Swansea beat Reading 4–1 to finish sixth, moving into the play-offs ahead of Nottingham Forest on goal difference,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but were later defeated by Brentford in the semi-final second leg.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
At the end of the 2020–21 season, Swansea finished fourth in the league and secured a play-off place for a second consecutive season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Swansea progressed to the play-off final after defeating Barnsley 2–1 on aggregate, but lost to Brentford at Wembley Stadium.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After Cooper left the club, Russell Martin became head coach in 2021, leading the club to mid-table finishes before moving to Southampton in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 2023–24 season saw new manager Michael Duff dismissed after five months due to poor results and criticism of his tactics; his replacement Luke Williams guided the team to fourteenth place.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Swansea came under new ownership in November 2024, when Levien and Kaplan sold their majority shareholding to American businessmen Andy Coleman, Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen, and British businessman Nigel Morris.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the following months, Real Madrid footballer Luka Modrić and American rapper Snoop Dogg joined the club's new ownership group.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the pitch, Alan Sheehan replaced Williams following a successful spell as caretaker manager, but was sacked six months later.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Stadium
The Vetch Field was Swansea's home ground between 1912, the year the club was founded, and 2005. The ground saw a record attendance of 32,796 in a 1968 FA Cup fourth round game against Arsenal.<ref name="Swans 100"/> The final game at the Vetch was Swansea's win against Wrexham in the 2004–05 FAW Premier Cup.<ref name="Our managers"/>
On 10 July 2005, Swansea's new home ground, the Liberty Stadium, was officially opened.<ref name="LibertyStadium">Template:Cite web</ref> The first game to be played at the stadium was Swansea's friendly game against Fulham.<ref name="LibertyStadium"/> The Liberty became the first Premier League stadium in Wales when Swansea were promoted to the Premier League.<ref name="LibertyStadium"/> Aside from being the home of Swansea City, the stadium has hosted Welsh international football matches and has also been the home of the Ospreys rugby team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was renamed the Swansea.com Stadium on 9 August 2021, following a 10-year naming rights agreement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of September 2025, the stadium's capacity is 21,000.<ref name="Swansea City Events"/>
Rivalries
.jpg){kind=link}
Swansea City's main rivals are Cardiff City. Matches between the two clubs are known as the South Wales derbies. The rivalry has been described as among the most hostile in British football,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> particularly after the 1960s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In a 2009 match, referee Mike Dean was struck on the head by a coin thrown from the crowd in the 2–2 draw between the clubs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
While Cardiff have won more derby matches, neither team had completed the league double until the 2021–22 season. During the season, Swansea won 3–0 and 4–0 to become the first side to complete the double in the derby's 110-year history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The following season, Swansea beat Cardiff 2–0 at home and 3–2 in the away game, which marked a fourth consecutive derby win and a second consecutive league double.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Swansea City and Bristol City have also been described as rivals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Identity
Nicknames
People from Swansea are nicknamed Jacks, a nickname also associated with the football club. According to Swansea 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 named Swansea 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Kits and crests
Upon foundation in 1912, Swansea Town adopted white shirts and shorts due to Swansea RFC, a rugby union team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Secondary colours on the home kit have predominantly been black, with orange in the 1960s and red in the 1990s and 2000s.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2012–13, the club celebrated their centenary with a copper-trimmed kit and a commemorative crest.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 1998 crest was reintroduced to kits in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Kit manufacturers and sponsors
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 1975–1979 | Bukta | none |
| 1979–1981 | Adidas | |
| 1981–1984 | Patrick | |
| 1984–1985 | Hummel | Diversified Products (DP) |
| 1986–1989 | Admiral Sportswear | |
| 1989–1991 | Spall Sports | |
| 1991–1992 | none | |
| 1992–1993 | Matchwinner | ACTION |
| 1993–1995 | Gulf | |
| 1995–1996 | Le Coq Sportif | |
| 1996–1997 | South Wales Evening Post | |
| 1997–1999 | New Balance | Silver Shield |
| 1999–2000 | M&P Bikes | |
| 2000–2001 | Bergoni | Stretchout |
| 2001–2004 | The Travel House | |
| 2004–2005 | RE/MAX | |
| 2005–2007 | Macron | The Travel House |
| 2007–2008 | swansea.com | |
| 2008–2009 | Umbro | |
| 2009–2011 | 32Red | |
| 2011–2013 | Adidas | |
| 2013–2016 | GWFX | |
| 2016–2017 | Joma | BETEAST |
| 2017–2018 | LeTou | |
| 2018–2019 | Bet UK | |
| 2019–2020 | YOBET<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| 2020–2022 | Swansea University | |
| 2022–2023 | Westacres (Home) Swansea University (Away) Owens (Third) | |
| 2023–2025 | Reviva (Home) Westacres (Away and Third) | |
| 2025–present | Reviva (Home and Away) Gulf (Third) |
European record
- Swansea City's scores are given first in all scorelines.
Players
Current squad
Template:Updated<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Fs start Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs mid Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs end
Out on loan
Template:Fs start Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs mid Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs player Template:Fs end
Under-23s
Retired numbers
Template:Main Template:Fs start Template:Fs player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Fs end
Club officials and backroom staff
Club officials
- Template:Updated<ref name="Contact List">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Ownership statement"/>
Shareholders who own 10% or more of the issued share capital include Swansea Football LLC (controlled by Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen) and Nigel Morris, while Swansea City Supporters Society Ltd is also a shareholder.<ref name="Ownership statement"/> Luka Modrić and Snoop Dogg are co-owners and investors.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Honorary club president | Alan Curtis |
| Chief executive officer | Tom Gorringe |
| Directors | Andy Coleman Brett Cravatt Jason Cohen George Popstefanov Chris Sznewajs Tyler Morse Nigel Morris Todd Marcelle Keith English Martin Morgan Paul Meller (Supporter Director) Diane Hughes |
First-team staff
- Template:Updated<ref name="Contact List"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Vacant |
| Assistant head coach | Darren O'Dea |
| First-team coaches | Richard Stearman Kristian O'Leary |
| Head of goalkeeping | Martyn Margetson |
| Head of medical | Dr. Jez McCluskey |
| Head physiotherapist | Thomas Gittoes |
| First-team kit manager | Michael Eames |
Academy staff
- Template:Updated<ref name="Academy Staff">Template:Cite web</ref>
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Academy manager | Ryan Davies |
| Head of operations | Rebecca Gigg |
| Head of coaching | Liam McGarry |
| Under 21s coach | Anthony Wright<ref name="Academy Staff"/> |
| Under 18s coach | Joe Roberts |
| Head of youth development phase | Matthew Layton |
Managers
Swansea City's first professional manager was Walter Whittaker, who was appointed in 1912.<ref name="Our managers"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In the club's first season, Whittaker led Swansea to their first Welsh Cup win.<ref name="Our managers"/> The club's longest-serving manager, in terms of tenure, was Haydn Green, who held the position for eight years, four months and 14 days, spanning the entirety of World War II.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Trevor Morris, who oversaw the most games at Swansea, was also the first manager to lead a Welsh club in Europe, qualifying for the 1961–62 Cup Winners' Cup.<ref name="Our managers"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
John Toshack, Swansea City's most successful manager with three league promotions and three Welsh Cup wins, led the club to their highest league finish, sixth place in the 1981–82 First Division.<ref name="Our managers"/> Appointed in February 1996, the Dane Jan Mølby became Swansea's first foreign manager and took them to the 1996–97 Division Three play-off final, which they lost.<ref name="Our managers"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2011, Swansea achieved promotion to the Premier League under Brendan Rodgers, becoming the first Welsh team to play in the division since its formation in 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the club's centenary year (2012–13), they won the League Cup for the first time under Michael Laudrup, the first major trophy in Swansea's 100-year history.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Records and statistics
Wilfred Milne holds the record for Swansea appearances, having played 586 matches between 1920 and 1937, closely followed by Roger Freestone with 563 between 1991 and 2004.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The player who has won the most international caps while at the club is Ashley Williams with 50 for Wales.
The goalscoring record is held by Ivor Allchurch, with 166 goals, scored between 1947 and 1958 and between 1965 and 1968.<ref name="Rothmans9900">Template:Cite book</ref> Cyril Pearce holds the record for the most league goals scored in a season, in 1931–32, with 35 league goals in the Second Division.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Facts and figures">Template:Cite web</ref>
The club's widest victory margin was 12–0, a scoreline which they achieved once in the European Cup Winners' Cup, against Sliema in 1982.<ref name="Facts and figures"/><ref name="UEFA_Record">Template:Cite web</ref> They have lost by an eight-goal margin on two occasions, once in the FA Cup, beaten 0–8 by Liverpool in 1990 and once in the European Cup Winners' Cup, beaten 0–8 by AS Monaco in 1991.<ref name="SwanseaStattoRecords">Template:Cite web</ref> Swansea's 8–1 win against Notts County in the FA Cup in 2018 is their largest winning margin of the competition, and the largest winning margin at their home ground, the Liberty Stadium.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Swansea's home attendance record was set at the fourth round FA Cup tie against Arsenal on 17 February 1968, with 32,796 fans attending the Vetch Field.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The club broke their transfer record to re-sign André Ayew from West Ham United in January 2018 for a fee of £18 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The most expensive sale is Gylfi Sigurðsson who joined Everton in August 2017 for a fee believed to be £45 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Honours
Swansea City's first trophy was the Welsh Cup, which they won as Swansea Town in 1913. Their first league honour came in 1925, when they won the 1924–25 Football League Third Division South title. Since then, Swansea have gone on to win the League Cup once, the Football League Trophy twice and the Welsh Cup a further nine times. They have also qualified for UEFA Cup Winners' Cup seven times and the UEFA Europa League once.
Swansea City's honours include the following:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
League
- Second Division / Championship (level 2)
- Third Division South / Third Division / League One (level 3)
- Fourth Division / Third Division / League Two (level 4)
Cup
References
External links
Template:Commons category Template:Portal bar
- Template:Official website
- Swans Academy (Template:Webarchive) – Official Swansea City academy site
- Swans Commercial – Official Swansea City commercial site
Independent sites
- Swansea City Supporters' Trust
- Swansea IndependentTemplate:Dead link
- Planet Swans
- Swansea City at the Premier League official website
- Forza Swansea
- Latest Swansea City News and Video. Template:Webarchive.
- Swans100: 100 Years of Swansea City AFC
Template:Swansea City A.F.C. Template:Navboxes Template:Portal bar Template:Authority control
- Pages with broken file links
- Swansea City A.F.C.
- Football clubs in Wales
- English Football League clubs
- Association football clubs established in 1912
- Sport in Swansea
- Welsh football clubs in English leagues
- Southern Football League clubs
- EFL Trophy winners
- 1912 establishments in Wales
- EFL Cup winners
- Premier League clubs
- Welsh Cup winners
- Football clubs in Swansea