Meet The Opposition | Burnley
As Swansea City prepare to travel to face Burnley at Turf Moor, we look at the history, form and the key figures of the club known as the Clarets.
What's their story?
Established in 1882. Burnley Football Club are one of the founding members of the Football League.
The Clarets made their mark on silverware in the 1920-21 season winning their first of two First Division domestic titles. The win was particularly impressive on the back of a remarkable 30 game unbeaten run in the league campaign. A record only beaten by Arsenal’s ‘invincibles’ team of 2003-4, 80 years later. Their second league triumph came in 1960, with further honours coming via the FA Cup in 1914.
Recent times have seen the Clarets have three spells in the Premier League. Two occasions resulted in immediate relegation to the Championship (2009-10 and 2014-15). The Clarets firmly established themselves in the top flight under the guidance of Sean Dyche after promotion in 2016. They spent six years in the Premier League.
How's their form?
Good. The Clarets are in fine form and are currently on a ten-game unbeaten run stretching back to August.
Currently sitting fourth, the Lancashire outfit have not lost since a 1-0 defeat at Vicarage Road against Watford. Despite not tasting defeat for more than a month, four teams have picked up more points in this period due to the number of draws.
In those ten matches, they have picked up 18 points. The Swans have picked up 17 so it's all to play for on Saturday.
Who’s the gaffer?
Former Manchester City and Belgium defender Vincent Kompany is the new man in charge at Turf Moor this season replacing caretaker manager Mike Jackson in the summer.
Kompany joined from his hometown club of Anderlecht who he had been in charge of for the prior two seasons following his retirement and departure from Manchester City.
Having started his playing career in Belgium, the centre-back crafted his trade playing for two seasons in the German Bundesliga at Hamburg before then City boss Roberto Mancini signed the defender.
Kompany enjoyed a wealth of success in his 265 appearances over an eleven-year spell with the Citizens, winning the Premier League and EFL Cup on four occasions, the FA Cup twice, whilst also achieving the personal accolade of Premier League player of the season in 2012. The defender also represented his country on 89 occasions, scoring four goals.
His exploits earned him a statue outside the Etihad Stadium.
Who's the captain?
Former Swansea City midfielder Jack Cork is the new captain of Burnley this season, replacing Ben Mee.
The former Chelsea trainee and son of former Swans manager Alan Cork is a player fondly remembered for scoring the second goal in a crucial 3-1 win for the Swans in a 2016 win over Liverpool that help retain the Swans Premier League status in that season.
The ex-Southampton midfielder made 80 appearances over a three-year period in South Wales after joining the club for £3 million in 2015.
Since being snapped up by then manager Sean Dyche at Turf Moor for £8 million in 2017, Cork has gone on to be a key figure in his side's midfield playing more than 150 games over five seasons.
Who are the key men?
Keeping experienced forward Jay Rodriguez fit will be vital to Burnley’s promotion challenge this season. The ex-Southampton and West Bromwich Albion striker is in his second spell at the club after re-signing for £5 million in 2019. A veteran of two promotion winning campaigns with the Clarets, Rodriguez has five goals to his name this campaign.
Kompany will be hoping that the one-time England capped player can continue the good form through the season to replicate his best Championship tally for West Bromwich Albion of 22 in the 2018-19 season.
Former Preston North End trainee Josh Brownhill is the main source of creativity in the Burnley midfield, directly involved in seven goals this campaign, scoring four and assisting three of his side's 20 strikes. Brownhill has been a regular in the Clarets midfield since his January 2020 move from Bristol City and is closing in on three figures in appearances for the Lancashire club.
Southampton loanee Nathan Tella has proven to be a shrewd piece of business by Kompany in the transfer market. The 23-year-old former Arsenal youth product is joint top of the scoring charts with Rodriguez at Turf Moor this season, utilising his lightning pace to find the scoresheet five times in twelve appearances for the promotion hopefuls.