Phil SumblerAs a former manager of Swansea, Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday it is fair to say that, on paper, Garry Monk looks like a manager who is not likely to stay long at any club whether that be through choice or the decisions taken upstairs in a boardroom.
After 22 months in charge here, his longest spell is 15 months at Birmingham followed by 11 at Leeds, 6 at Middlesbrough and just 5 at Sheffield Wednesday. 5 jobs in a little over 6 years with a total of 59 months in management, Monk has not worked as a manager since departing Birmingham in November 2020.
However, the former Swans captain and manager was on Talksport yesterday defending his record at various clubs when asked about the regular turnover of jobs “If you look at my actual career as a player, I only had 3 clubs in 18 years so I am a loyal person.
“Swansea, my first ever job, no experience and I gave them the highest Premier League finish they ever had. The following season we started brilliant and then we had a run of games where I had one win in ten which I now understand in the realms of football is a sackable offence.
“I then went to Leeds and gave them their best season since being in League One. We hit our points target of 75 points but unfortunately just missed out on the play offs and a new owner came in and there was a change of plan.
“I went to Middlesbrough and lasted five months. They wanted to change their whole approach and even though we were 2/3 points off the play offs with half a season to play and I have to question that decision.
“Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday was more about fire fighting and points deductions.”
On the face of it you would certainly say that there is some unluckiness around Monk’s jobs and the timing of them. We should not forget that he did indeed deliver our best ever PL finish but at the same time he was dismantling a style of football that had served us so well during his time as a player. His sacking, when it arrived, was inevitable and a sad day for the club given his service as a player, captain and manager but ultimately it was inevitable and everyone connected to the club knew it at the time.
Fans of the other clubs will have their own views as to his time there but he certainly has a point in his last two jobs although the arguments against his points for Leeds and Middlesbrough are louder with their fans.
What maybe is a surprise is that no clubs have come calling for Monk since his departure from Wednesday especially maybe in the lower two divisions – or even at Championship level – maybe that tells a story in itself.
It is always difficult as a Swansea fan to be too critical of Monk for all he did do for the club but I think it is also fair to say that we remember him far more fondly as a player than a manager.
👏 “Swansea had the highest Premier League finish they ever had.”
⚪️ “At #LUFC they had the best season they’d had since League One.”
🔴 “At #Boro I had 5 months and they wanted to change the whole approach.”
Garry Monk passionately defends his managerial career so far. pic.twitter.com/NlX2f5v3eJ
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) January 6, 2022
One of the reasons for Monk’s departure at Middlesbrough was his supposedly dodgy business dealings with rumours of cutting a specific agent on deals who didn’t represent the player. He also paid more for Ashley Fletcher than he knew was available for. On removal from the club, he wiped all of his communication devices to cover his tracks.
This is an interesting article with loads on the suspicions of Monk’s time at Middlesbrough
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/new-claims-over-wiped-laptop-16535755.amp
Hi Birmingham fan here, the reason he was outed from us is because of the same issues with boro and the agent.
He once told Jude Bellingham that if he didnt sign with this agent then he would never make it in football, the game in question was Blues v WBA and he was named as a sub to entice him with the fans and atmosphere.