Laudrup became the most successful Swansea coach in Premier League history by leading them to the League Cup trophy. Little surprise his sack was greeted with revolts and criticisms of board and Chairman Huw Jenkins.
In Laudrup's place, retired club captain and defender Garry Monk was appointed temporary coach. Monk had earlier retired at the end of the 2012/2013 season and had no prior experience in club management.Swansea was sure taking a gamble on him (35 years old rookie). In his first match at the Liberty Stadium, Monk beat arch rivals Cardiff (3-0) and he went on to finish 14th in the Premier League table to secure survival.
Fast-forward to the 2014/2015 season opener for Swansea against mighty Manchester United at Old Trafford coached by veteran Louis Van Gaal. Swansea comprehensively beat United that day winning 2-1, and Monk went on to win his next three games after that to be names the "Barclays Manager of the month of August". It took a Diego Costa inspired Chelsea (hattrick) to inflict a season first defeat to Swansea.
Monk set to work by recalling South Korean Ki Sung Yueng after a successful spell in Sunderland and also after a fall out with Laudrup. He also signed Argentine Centre back who played at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and Napoli, combined with Lucas Fabinski (Arsenal), Bafetimbi Gomis (Lyon) and January2015 signing of Jack Cork from South Coast club Southampton. Ki ended up being voted Swansea Supporters' player of the season, scoring an impressive eight goals , including one winning goal each against Manchester United home and away. Little wonder Swansea were demolished 5-0 by Chelsea while Ki was away with South Korea due to his engagement at the Asian Cup in Australia. Cork gave the team balance as his presence allowed the likes of Jonjo Shelvey and Ki the freedom to move forward and cause problems for opposition defenders .
Monk'a most impressive managerial success was not that he finished 8th with 56 record points for Swansea but, that he achieved that result with the team playing consistent good attractive football. Monk also became the third manager to do the double over Premier League giants Manchester United and Arsenal in the same season. Swansea was so consistent that they had the luxury of selling their top scorer in two consecutive seasons (2012/2013 and 2013/2014) in January for £28 to North West Manchester City (Wilfried Bony) and yet second striker Gomis stepped up in Bony's absence and even scored the winner against Arsenal at the Emirates. Monk has been an excellent servant to Swansea since replacing former Captain Roberto Martinez (Everton coach) and going on to play for a decade before handing over captaincy to Ashley Williams(2004-2014).
Monk might not have been a Swansea local boy but he has earned his legendary status. What makes his season so outstanding is that while the likes of Ronald Koeman and Neil Pearson all performed incredibly well with Southampton and Leicester respectively, Monk outshone them because of his records amidst a lack of experience at the top level . He instilled an extra discipline and solidarity to an already lethal attacking team while being a rookie.
This season it is expected he will achieve more considering his early season moves for Dede Ayew from Marseille and striker Eder from Sporting Braga in Portugal. Swansea will be in a difficult situation if Monk goes on to record more success because it may be difficult for the small club to hold on to him. That isn't even a problem to the fans of the club who dream of season success. Monk has once more demonstrated that experience isn't everything in football management.
No comments:
Post a Comment