Alan Sheehan speaks for the first time on becoming Swansea’s new permanent head coach on a three-year deal having climbed up from 17th.
The 38-year-old has been in interim charge since February, winning seven of his 12 games at the helm, leaving them 11th going into the final Championship game of the season.
Sheehan has impressed in his successful stint taking over since February following the departure of Luke Williams, leading Swansea clear of relegation danger.
Swansea City AFC is delighted to announce that Alan Sheehan has been appointed as the new head coach of the football club, following a highly successful spell as caretaker head coach 🦢
👉 https://t.co/wming9kILc pic.twitter.com/lZ617r6q4X
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) April 30, 2025
CLUB STATEMENT:
Swansea City AFC is delighted to announce that Alan Sheehan has been appointed as the new head coach of the football club, following a highly successful spell as caretaker head coach.
Under Sheehan’s leadership, the team has picked up an impressive 23 points out of a possible 36, including a remarkable run of five consecutive wins.
Sheehan, who initially took on the caretaker role after Luke Williams’ departure in mid-February, has led Swansea City from 17th in the Championship to a guaranteed top-half finish. During this time the team stabilised delivering consistent performances, ensuring the Swans’ safety and competitiveness in the league.
Director of Football, Richard Montague, said: “We’ve been very impressed with Alan since he’s taken over as caretaker head coach for a second time. It was important that we carried out a thorough and detailed process for appointing our new head coach. We had to get this decision right, and we are very happy with the work that’s been done and confident that we’ve picked the best head coach to take our club to the next level.”
Tom Gorringe, Swansea City’s CEO, added: “Alan has shown strong leadership and tactical acumen during his time as caretaker head coach. Collectively, we believe he is the right person to take Swansea City forward and build on the progress that we’ve made towards the end of this season. We’re excited and optimistic about what we can achieve together.”
Sheehan has signed a three-year deal and his backroom staff will be agreed and shared in due course as Swansea City prepares to conclude the season. The Swans will finish their campaign with a home game against Oxford United on Saturday, May 3, with a 12:30 pm kick-off.
Alan Sheehan said, per the club website: “I have always said it is a privilege to be at this football club, and now I have the honour of officially being the head coach,.
“It feels somewhat surreal, but I am incredibly privileged to have the honour of managing the football club.
“There has been a really good feeling around the place, I have spoken over the last couple of months about building something here.
“I have been in talks with the ownership for a good while now and the message has always been consistent about what we need to move forward.
“Now we have the base to move forward with those plans, we have had positive discussions with Brett (Cravatt), Jason (Cohen) and Richard (Montague), they have been excellent.
“They have got a plan for the football club, they have seen the atmosphere change over this last period and it’s an opportunity to build on that.
“The fans have been excellent to me, and I understand the responsibility and duty of care I now have to the football club, to the fans, the owners, the staff and the players.
“I will leave no stone unturned to make the club successful. I have said before, it’s not just about surviving, or being the manager for the sake of it. I would love to bring this football club to a better place.”
Sheehan has often spoken of the need to be adaptable amidst the varying and different challenges posed by life in the Championship.
But one consistent aspect of recent performances has been aggressive pressing and attacking play in transition, with the Swans causing opponents problems with and without the ball.
It has helped them ensure a top-half finish on the back of a run of five-straight wins, but Sheehan acknowledges the team will need to evolve into a side that can dominate in and out of possession, to make sure they progress and head in the right direction.
“There have been a lot of really pleasing things in this period,” said Sheehan, who also confirmed a decision over the make-up of his backroom team will be made during the off-season.
“We have really found momentum after the international break, and to have that run of results has been very pleasing.
“I keep saying we want to build momentum and confidence within the group to go and do something.
“This is a very unforgiving league, so to have that run and be in a place where we can finish in the top half is very encouraging.
“We want to be a competitive team, we have to build on what we have and make it better.
“We have been incredibly aggressive without the ball, and with it.
“We want to control games, but we want to control the game when we have the ball and when we don’t have the ball.
“We don’t want a false mindset where you think you are in control just because you have the ball.
“You can have the ball, but the other team can be in control because they are waiting to hurt us when we turn it over.
“So, I think the non-negotiables will be that we are ultra-aggressive, we will want to have those core principles and fundamentals, while recognising we will need to evolve to be a team that can be effective and dominate opponents in and out of possession.”
Twitter users reacted Alan Sheehan speaks for the first time on becoming Swansea’s new permanent head coach…
@beckyboohowells: I loveee this for him 🦢🙌🏻🫶🏻 got the team together again, been here few years now and knows the club inside and out. Go and do you’re best mush
@garryleechswans: Well deserved. Whoever was put in charge next season would’ve been working with the majority of this group of player last and Sheehan has got the best of them continually since returning to the hot seat. Here’s to getting Darling and O’Brien to follow suit 🙏🏻
@Brandon16FC: Deserved hopefully gets some backing now
@jacks_are: Wrong decision and a step away from the clubs identity. Decision will look worse and worse as next season rolls on. Would love to be proved wrong but when we’re 14th with no identity or direction next season it’ll be interesting to see where we are as a fan base. Time will tell.
@NeathJack1: In all honesty, it would have looked ridiculous if he didn’t get the gig given his run as a caretaker, and I wish him nothing but success. Slight raise of an eyebrow over the 3 year contract, though. Assume there are break clauses in there.
@mgevans5: Great news. A lot of fans talk about the Swansea Way, but the football hasn’t been the Swansea Way since Graham Potter was in charge. Sheehan has worked well with the resources he has at his disposal. There needs to be a significant recruitment drive in the summer to help him
@TD7_2025: Congratulations Alan, you guided us in an extremely professional manner. The results since you took over have been a drastic improvement. The last few months was just the beginning, I look forward to the future. I feel we will be successful & I hope the club are able to back you.
@SA6JACK: Fuck what you think of this appointment. What we can all agree on is that this man deserves a shot more than anyone. Get behind him and we will see what happens
@kieranmain_: Absolutely stinks of Clement/Guidolin. Not to mention that lot up the road who have just suffered the consequences
@hjj2907: No matter what you think everyone needs to get behind him, now need the board to back him properly in the summer and we could be in for a good year
@GutoLlewelyn: Appointing a caretaker has its risks (as does pretty much any managerial appointment) and time will tell whether his success this season can be sustained over a longer period. One thing’s for sure, the Swans need a good summer to ensure he has a squad fit for the challenge ahead
@egansmind: He’s won me over playing good football and getting great results. Now it’s time for the board to deliver on players to give him a chance next season #AlanSheehansBarmyArmy #SwanseaCity 🦢
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What do you make of this appointment, and Alan’s caretaker stint? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or tweet us @fan_banter
