Meet the opposition | Coventry City

19th October
First team
Coventry City

As Swansea City prepare to take on Coventry City, we take a closer look at the Sky Blues.

What’s their story?

Coventry Keith Houchen

Once a top-flight mainstay with a 34-year stint in the First Division and Premier League, Coventry are back in the Championship after securing the League One title last season.

Formed in 1883, Coventry joined the Football League in 1919 and steadily rose to reach the First Division in 1967 under the management of Jimmy Hill.

They claimed their only major honour when they won the FA Cup with a 3-2 win over Tottenham in 1987, with Keith Houchen scoring one of the great Wembley goals.

They have fallen on hard times on and off the field since losing Premier League status in 2001, but there are signs that the famous old club are on their way back.

How’s their form?

Coventry Kyle McFadzean

Coventry have had a mixed start to the new season in terms of results, but they have been a more than competitive proposition in every game they’ve played.

They suffered defeats to early pacesetters Bristol City, Bournemouth and Brentford, but picked up a fine win over QPR, which they backed up with a draw at Barnsley prior to the international break.

Who’s the boss?

Coventry Mark Robins

Mark Robins. The former Manchester United, Norwich, Leicester and Manchester City forward took charge of the Sky Blues for a second time when he succeeded Russell Slade in March 2017.

After hanging up his boots after a 17-year professional career, Robins started his managerial career in 2007 with Rotherham, turning the Millers from relegation battlers to promotion contenders.

He subsequently managed Barnsley and Coventry, with his promising first spell ending when he joined Huddersfield in 2013, and twice kept them safe from relegation before departing.

A stint at Scunthorpe followed before he returned to Coventry to kick-start a revival of their fortunes. EFL Trophy success at Wembley in 2017 was followed by promotion from League Two via the play-offs in 2018. Now, he has them back in the second tier.

Who’s the captain?

Coventry Liam Kelly

Liam Kelly. The 30-year-old Scotland international was one of Robins’ first signings after taking over and has been an integral part of their climb back through divisions when fit.

The midfielder started his career at MK Dons, but made his first big impact at Kilmarnock, where he made over 100 league appearances in a four-year stay at Rugby Park.

After a spell at Bristol City, stints with Oldham Athletic and Leyton Orient followed, before making the switch to Coventry on a free transfer in 2017.

Who are the key men?

Coventry Matt Godden

Striker Matt Godden was Coventry’s top scorer last season with 14 league goals, and he has started the new campaign in fine form with three Championship goals already under his belt.

Midfielder Callum O’Hare has signed permanently from Aston Villa after an impressive loan spell last term, while that area if the field has also been bolstered by the loan acquisitions of Ben Sheaf and Ryan Giles from Arsenal and Wolves respectively.

Kyle McFadzean brings a host of experience to the defence, while Slovakian keeper Marko Marosi has proved a solid signing since joining from Doncaster in 2019.