Swansea City concluded the 2024–25 Championship season in 11th place, marking a notable recovery after a challenging mid-season slump. Under Luke Williams, the team struggled, leading to his departure in February following a series of defeats.
Alan Sheehan took over and revitalised the squad, securing 23 points from the final 13 games. Forward Liam Cullen led the scoring with 12 goals across all competitions.
Alan Sheehan took over and revitalised the squad, securing 23 points from the final 13 games. Forward Liam Cullen led the scoring with 12 goals across all competitions.
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00:00Well, for Swansea City it was perhaps a disappointing campaign in the Championship, finishing around the mid-table and not where they would have wanted to have been challenging, certainly at the start of the season.
00:13Swansea, of course, a club who have, in recent times at least, a rich Premier League history and survived in the top flight for a good number of years and, of course, won the League Cup or the Carling Cup as it was back in the day, now the Carabao Cup, in 2013 beating Bradford City at Wembley.
00:30But then they went down and they never managed to really find their feet again in the Championship, sort of struggling around that mid-table and this season just gone was, unfortunately for them, no real difference to what they've been used to of late in the Championship.
00:43Of course, never really in any danger of going down to League One at least, but never really also looking like getting inside the play-off mix as well or competing towards the top of the table.
00:57That's a real disappointment for Swansea City because, of course, as I say, a club with, in recent times, good Premier League history, but they've really lost their way as a club in the more recent years and they need to find their feet again.
01:09They need to get themselves, hopefully, going into next season, back towards the top of the Championship table.
01:14Certainly what they need to do is have a good summer and build themselves up into a club that can compete.
01:19But Charles Hay Jones, one of our Wales sports correspondents, how likely is that for Swansea City after what has been a disappointing campaign?
01:27How easily can they flick that switch, have a good summer and hit the ground running going into next season?
01:34Swansea City's 2024-25 Championship season was a turbulent journey marked by instability, underwhelming recruitment and a late resurgence under an interim manager who's now the permanent head coach.
01:48And in terms of a season overview, obviously, the Swans concluded the season in 11th, an improvement from the previous year's 14th, amassing 61 points, four more than the prior campaign.
02:01And now, you know, we sort of break Swansea City's season down into three parts.
02:06The start was fantastic. The end was fantastic.
02:10However, the dismay, dismal run of seven defeats in nine around February time, which led to the sacking of Luke Williams in February, that was a terrible time for Swansea City.
02:24Obviously, it included the South Wales derby loss as well to Cardiff City, who ultimately were relegated to League One.
02:30In terms of Luke Williams, if you have to touch on his tenure, it was, you know, really inconsistent, a lack of clear tactical direction, it has to be said.
02:39But, you know, it was sort of a tenure that it could have been something special.
02:45And then he suddenly got linked to the West Brom job after Carlos Corcoran left in December.
02:49And I think that's when the sort of tides started to slowly turn.
02:54But then you have to look in the next part, and it was Williams' departure.
02:58Alan Sheehan stepped in as the interim head coach.
03:01And under his guidance, Swansea experienced a notable upturn, you know, 24 points from the final 13 matches, the third best record in the championship during that period.
03:12So they were, in terms of the form chart, they were third, only Leeds and Burnley ahead of them, which were obviously the top two promoted to the Premier League.
03:20So that was a really positive, and it leaves them in a great space ahead of next season.
03:26You know, the impressive run helped the team sort of steer clear of any relegation threats, which were creeping in just around that sort of February time.
03:35Standout performance as Liam Cullen with 12 goals.
03:38He sort of showcased his potential as a reliable forward option going, you know, in the future.
03:45Josh Tymon led the team with 81 chances created, the highest among championship defenders.
03:51So that sort of, you know, said his creativity and how good he can be from the back line as well.
03:57So that was an interesting one.
04:00Goncalo Franco as well made 125 successful tackles, ranking second in the league in midfield.
04:07So, you know, you have to look at this and you look ahead and you think Sheehan's got a group of players who, you know, have really got some talent in there, you know, all across the pitch.
04:18They've obviously got some big investment situation going on and Luka Modric is coming on to be part of the club as well, which is very interesting.
04:26So, yeah, it looks good for Swansea City.
04:29They've, you know, had a steady season.
04:31It is at the end and they're hoping that they can continue that straight on to next season.
04:36And they want to be in that top six.
04:38There's no doubt about that.
04:39And hopefully make their eventual return to the Premier League.