Kris O'Leary joins first-team coaching staff at Swansea City

Kris O’Leary has joined the Swansea City first-team coaching staff ahead of the 2022-23 season.

The 44-year-old takes on the position of first-team coach, having held the role on an interim basis over the final months of last season in addition to his responsibilities with the Swansea under-23 squad.

It continues the former midfielder’s lengthy relationship with his boyhood club.

O’Leary played 334 games for the club over a 15-year spell, winning three promotions during his time at both the Vetch Field and Liberty Stadium.

The former midfielder had previously coached in the club’s academy as well as in the first-team setup; O’Leary was part of Garry Monk’s coaching staff during the 2014-15 season that saw the club finish eighth in the Premier League.

“He shows an unbelievable care for what we are trying to do and the people at this football club,” said head coach Russell Martin.

“He knows what this club stands for, he played for it and experienced the transition under Roberto Martinez.

“He has supported the club all his life and he has been brilliant with us since we have come in.

“It was amazing how much time he spent with us, and how he then translated that into the way the under-23s played and you could see the progression they made over the second half of last season.

“We were so impressed with that, and the efforts of Kris and the academy staff there have made it much easier for the likes of Cameron Congreve, Joel Cotterill, Azeem Abdulai and Ben Lloyd to come in and quickly feel settled and involved.

“He stepped up last season and was a great sounding board for us, he offers different opinions and always relates things to The Swansea Way.

“He has great knowledge of the game, a great understanding, but, every bit as importantly, he has been a great person.

“We are really happy and looking forward to continuing to work with him.”

A replacement for O'Leary as coach of the under-21s - as the Swans development side will be known during the coming season - will be announced in due course.