Not too long ago, there was a newly promoted Premier League side that caught eyes of football fans across the globe with their valiant and beautiful passing and pressing game. If the then manager Brendan Rodgers was the architect of Swansea City’s rise, defender Garry Monk was the backbone of their success story. Monk joined the Swans back in 2004 when they were a League two outfit.
However, during his 12 years of association with the Welsh crew, the Englishman gained three promotions and also managed the side since 4th February 2014 to 9 December 2015.
He was handed over the managerial role from Michael Laudrup during a critical point of time and survived relegation scare with a game to spare. His promising inception earned him a permanent position as new Swansea City head coach signing a 3-year contract.
During his first full season in charge, the Swans enjoyed their most successful campaign in the top flight of English football with an 8th-placed finish and ample amount of memorable outcomes against big guns of Premier League. However, things changed rapidly as he had a chaotic start in the 2015-16 campaign with only one win in eleven league games which cost him his job. Thus, he ended his 12 years of attachment with Swansea City in dismay.
On 2nd June 2016, Garry Monk got another chance to reestablish his coaching career with Championship strugglers Leeds United on a one-year rolling contract. Leeds United, once treated as Premier League giants, had 12 years of downfall and are stuck in mid to lower table of the second tier of English football during past few campaigns. Monk accepted the uphill task of taking Leeds higher up the table. His statements were clear enough to portrait his integrity and ambitions:
“I have a refined way of working in terms of what I do and I’m able to do it with a blank canvas. It’s a young and hungry group of players with huge potential and we are trying to build a culture within the club. I think the players see that and it’s important that the fans see that as well, then you can start to create something. That’s the only way you can get out of these leagues and get success, promotions. I felt that as a player and have seen that as a manager.”
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Despite few initial stumbles, Monk has kept his every bit of word so far and transformed The Peacocks into a playoff side in just three months of time. The 37-year old Englishman has shown great intent and injected a winning intellect among his boys. He is still a rookie compared to the veterans Rafael Benitez, Steve Bruce, Ian Holloway and Neil Warnock, but his game-reading, vision and philosophy have helped him to go neck and neck with stronger opponents.
Leeds are currently seventh (i.e. one spot below the last playoff spot) in Championship table with one point off the sixth placed Norwich City. Also, they have progressed through to the quarter final of EFL Cup defeating Championship counterparts Norwich City in tie-breaker and fixed a date against last year runners-up Liverpool at Anfield.
Monk, who has reiterated his admiration towards his former boss Brendan Rodgers, has been vastly influenced by the Irishman’s coaching philosophy that has led him to apply similar tactics and vision in Leeds training. He has brought in former Swansea City winger Pablo Hernandez who has been impressive so far along with on loan Swans defender Kyle Bartley who has been rock-solid in Leeds back-line.
Young full-back Charlie Taylor has already been a winter transfer target of several Premier League and Championship outfits. New Zealand international and former Leicester City forward Chris Wood has been in blistering form netting 11 times in 19 appearances altogether. Also, veteran custodian Robert Green is providing much needed defensive resilience with his vast experience.
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Garry Monk is determined to form a formidable side with players mostly rejected and exiled by others. He is optimistic with Leeds United where the players trust their manager and have turned their season around defying all odds. Nevertheless, these are still early days and it will be interesting to follow whether the Peacocks can keep up their good work and continue such bold yet beautiful display.
Swansea City, now relegation battlers, might repent Monk’s sack as they have failed to replace him and degraded rapidly in recent months. But the Englishman has shown his gratefulness towards his former side and believes the experience with Swansea has made him a better manager.
“Coming in here, I already feel a better manager, but we all know that as a manager none of that will matter unless we get the results that are needed. We’re under no illusions. The challenge here is massive. But we’re going to do everything we can to try and get promoted.
“I’m not a manager that wants to go from club to club taking the easy route. I want to pick a big challenge in my career and this is one of them. It was an easy decision because of the challenge that it is.”
