For the second time in our history we climbed from the bottom tier to the top tier but this time we did it with stability in the team and under a series of different managers who not only got us to where we are now but are seeing us head towards a 5th season in the Premier League next term.
It has been the best period in the 103 year history of Swansea City without a doubt and it has been put together by a series of managers each of whom has taken us on a level from the previous manager no matter how long they stayed in the hot seat.
And in our latest site poll we ask you to vote for who you think is the best Swansea City manager of that period. But first let us look at the various contenders
Kenny Jackett
When Kenny Jackett arrived at the club the team were still playing at the Vetch FIeld but he led us to promotion from League Two in that last season at the Vetch whilst also giving us a FAW Premier Cup triumph in the very last game we played at the ground. In the first season at the Liberty he blew a sizeable amount of money in the January transfer window that seemed to transform us from a side looking certain of promotion to a team destined for the play offs. And it could have been back to back promotions for Jackett if it was not for missed penalties at the Millennium Stadium that saw us remain in League One for a second season. It was a bittersweet moment for Jackett having seen his side triumph there just two months earlier in the Football League Trophy.
Jackett’s time at Swansea never really recovered from that moment and he was replaced less than a year later after an indifferent time in the league where he was replaced by his former captain and the man he had let go not long after that Play-off final defeat.
Roberto Martinez
When Roberto came back into the club in the early part of 2007 it was probably safe to say that there were many who did not believe that it was the right appointment but one possibly made out of sentiment for the man who had been so influential in our team since arriving initially on loan from Wigan.
But Martinez changed the way that the Swans approached the game and the football style became one that was a joy to watch. Not only did he take us out of League One in his first full season in charge he did it with tremendous style and with massive gaps between us and the rest (despite the well publicised antics of Leeds United)
By the time promotion was secured against Gillingham, the Swans had long since been planning their return to the second tier for the first time in over 20 years. And it didn’t stop there as Martinez led the Swans to the brink of the play offs in that first season before departing for the Premier League and Wigan taking much of his backroom staff with him.
Paulo Sousa
Let’s be fair it was never pretty but it was effective. Sousa changed the way that the Swans played to an extent in that we became defensively strong under our new manager but no way were we as good to watch during his one season in charge.
We could still play football but we seemed intent on shutting up shop the moment that we went ahead in games and whilst we just missed out on promotion again there was no repeat of the sadness that there was 12 months earlier with Roberto when Sousa went to Leicester that summer.
“I would have driven him there myself” was a quip made by many but there was little doubt that Sousa gave us an extra steel that we probably needed.
Brendan Rodgers
When Brendan Rodgers was appointed as the replacement for Sousa again it was probably a moment that many felt we were going for the cheap option. But he continued the philosophy of the managers before him and the Swans for the first time reached the Championship play offs.
An unforgettable two legged semi final against Nottingham Forest was followed by that magical day at Wembley and the Swans were a Premier League team for the first side. Immediately we were written off but Rodgers adopted the same style that had got us to the promised land and against all the odds not just kept us there but kept us there with plenty to spare and league victories over Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool to boot.
And the way he did it was enough to persuade Liverpool to make him their new manager and after two years he departed for Anfield.
Michael Laudrup
If the name Brendan Rodgers was unknown to many when he was appointed it was amazing to think that our next manager was one of the greatest footballers ever to play the game. Danish legend Laudrup arrived in Swansea in the summer of 2012 and just a couple of months later laid down the gauntlet to everyone with a 5-0 opening day win at QPR that saw the Swans start the season in stunning style.
League performances were strong as was the league cup performances as the Swans won at both Anfield and Stamford Bridge on their way to the final where the first piece of major silverware was lifted after a 5-0 win over Bradford at Wembley.
League performances though dipped almost immediately and a slow finish to one season wasn’t helped with indifferent league performances in the next although progression in the Europa League saw us through to the last 32.
But it was coming to the end for Laudrup and he was sacked in February the first (and to date only) manager sacked in the last 10 years.
Garry Monk
And with the sacking of Laudrup the Swans turned to one of their own legends in Garry Monk to take over. And he started in the perfect way with a 3-0 win over Cardiff as the Swans stayed up with some to spare and are now currently on track for their most successful Premier League season to date.
Wins home and away over Manchester United, a home win against Arsenal and some strong performances have seen us eclipse the 40 point barrier already as Monk defies the critics in his first managerial role.
So there you have the options but who takes your vote as the best? Cast your votes below
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