Swansea City is working to shed its ordinary image and reclaim past glory, with Croatian star Luka Modrić serving as a key driver of this transformation. Modrić, who currently plays for AC Milan, became a shareholder and co-owner of Swansea in April 2025, bringing strong support to the club's ambitious project.

"This is an incredible opportunity. Swansea has a distinctive club identity, passionate fans, and the ambition to compete at the highest level. As an experienced player, I believe I can bring my knowledge to the club. My goal is to drive the club's growth and help build a bright future for the team," Modrić said.

The glorious memories of "Swansea's Spanish era" are still fresh. Between 2011 and 2018, they played in the Premier League for seven consecutive seasons. With help from players like Michu and Gylfi Sigurdsson, manager Michael Laudrup led the team to win the League Cup in the 2012-13 season.

Now the Welsh club is on the path to recovery once more. In their first nine Championship matches, Swansea collected 20 points and sit top of the table, two points ahead of second-placed Middlesbrough and four points clear of West Ham United and Stoke City. This is the club's best start to a Championship season since the three-point system was introduced.

Another turning point came in late November 2025 when Vítor Matos, former assistant to Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool, took over as manager. When he arrived, the team was 20th, just four points from the relegation zone. By the end of last season, he guided them to 11th place, 17 points clear of danger. The club has extended Matos's contract through 2030. Matos said progress has been gradual, and although last season laid solid foundations, continued effort is now essential.

The club has not neglected youth development. In preseason, they fielded 10 academy graduates in competitive matches. Player recruitment has also been effective: the team retained key striker Serú Wíjopotnik, invested €26.6 million in new signings, and brought in several loan players.

The team continues to embrace its possession-based football philosophy from the "Swansea tiki-taka" era. Matos was named Championship Manager of the Month for August; the team leads the league with 4,845 total passes and ranks second in possession at 59.4%; they rank sixth in chances created and fourth in shots on target.

The defense is equally strong: conceding only seven goals, the fewest in the Championship, and keeping four clean sheets, the most in the league. Their high defensive line and aggressive pressing have been particularly effective. With backing from Modrić and continuous growing strength, Swansea's dream of returning to the Premier League has been reignited.

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