Carlos Carvalhal left, and Graham Potter subsequently took the reigns for the 2018/19 Championship season as he looked to fire the Swans straight back to the Premier League. This wasn’t the case as Swansea finished in 10th place- never really challenging for the play-offs. The end of 2018/19 season saw Potter depart after less than a year in charge for the vacant Brighton job after Chris Hughton was sacked, despite keeping the seagulls in the Premier League for a second season running.
Now, Steve Cooper is the surprise favourite to take the Swans job for the upcoming 2019/20 season. Cooper was the manager of the World Cup winning England U17 side in India in 2017 where he was credited with getting the best out off players such as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho who have recently played for the England senior team.
Cooper wants a chance at club management and, having been born in Pontypridd, the Swans job seems like it could prove to be the ideal fit for both parties.
Cooper came from nowhere to become favourite for the job after it seemed like Wales assistant manager Mark Bowen looked likely to take the hotseat owing to the fact that he’s a local lad from Neath, and a Swans fan from young, after watching them in the old Vetch field.
Swansea seemed the ideal job for Bowen and the fans would surely welcome him coming back to manage his boyhood club. He was the bookmaker’s favourite but is now out of the running along with former Sunderland manager Gus Poyet.
Coopers lack of experience and the fact he’s never managed a senior team are reasons why people are surprised he is favourite. However, the fact Cooper has got the best out of young players is said to work in his favour and it is hoped that if he does take the job that he can develop young players, which used to be a key part of what Swansea stand for.
Cooper was also the manager of Liverpool’s academy from 2008 to 2011, managing the likes of now treble- winning Raheem Sterling and Champions League winner Trent Alexander-Arnold. Coopers history with young players is impressive and he now fancy’s his first senior management job. Coopers England youngsters played fast, quick-flowing football in India, the style of football Swansea want to play.
Other candidates for the job include QPR caretaker manager John Eustace, Michael Appleton (who managed Oxford United when they shocked the Swans in the FA Cup 3rd round in 2016 beating them 3-2) is also a candidate. Cameron Toshack, a name infamous in welsh football is also in the running but Steve Cooper is the front runner with the bookmakers; being 1/5 on Paddy Power to take the vacant Swan’s job.
why would the fans welcome Bowen? just because he was a fan as a kid? none of the sides he has been associated with have played the Swansea Way. And he is tarnished with Hughes record both on the pitch and in the transfer market.
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