Swansea City were never meant to be a Premier League team. They’ve spent the vast majority of their history in the doldrums of the English Football League and as recently as 2004, they were playing in Division Three, the basement division of the EFL. However, a decade on, they’ve found themselves in the big time.
Swans Soar
A Scott Sinclair hat-trick at Wembley in the 2011 Championship playoff final secured promotion to the big time for the first time in the storied history of the Swans. Over the following seven years, the Welsh outfit would soar to the heights of the Europa League and pick up victories against the likes of Spanish giants Valencia. But unfortunately, like most good things in life, Swansea’s ascension to greatness came to an end.
In 2018, they were relegated back to the Championship and they’ve hardly looked like they’re hell-bent on climbing their way back into the top flight in the time since.
This year, the Swans are way down to 18th place. in the second tier. As such, Championship odds providers don’t make them one of the favourites for promotion this term. Instead, their odds are suggesting that they should be looking over their shoulder at the trapdoor to League One rather than to the promised land of the Premier League.
Sometimes it’s good to reflect on brighter days. During their last stint dining at the most elite dinner table in British football, City found themselves with a plethora of cult heroes. Here are two of the best of them.
Michu
When you think of Swansea City’s Premier League era, one name that immediately comes to mind is Michu. The Spanish striker signed for the Swans in 2012 from Rayo Vallecano for a measly £2 million, and went on to become one of the most lethal goal-scorers in the league.
In his debut season, Michu scored 18 goals in 35 Premier League appearances – a feat that earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year. His incredible form even saw him being called up to the Spanish national team.
Unfortunately, injuries derailed his career, and he eventually left Swansea in November 2015. He will go down as a one-season wonder, but what a season it was.
Wilfried Bony
Next, we have Wilfried Bony. The Ivorian striker joined Swansea City in 2013 from Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem and he was charged with replacing the ever-injured Michu.
He quickly established himself as one of the best forwards in the Premier League, and scored 16 goals in his debut season, as well as a further 20 goals in the following campaign. The now-37-year-old was a powerful striker who scored all types of goals. His performance in the League Cup will forever be etched in the minds of Swans fans, netting twice in the Wembley showpiece against League Two Bradford City to help the Welsh side lift their first piece of major silverware.
His exploits were always going to garner the attention of bigger clubs, and Bony duly moved on to Manchester City in 2015 for £25m. He would never soar to the heights that he did at the Liberty Stadium, but he too will forever be both a Swansea and a Premier League icon.