Meet the opposition | Stoke City
As Swansea City get set to host Stoke City at the Swansea.com Stadium, we take a closer look at the Potters.
What’s their story?
Stoke City is the oldest professional Football League club, having initially been founded in 1863 as Stoke Ramblers. The team was originally mainly made up of local railway workers.
They became Stoke Football Club in 1878 and before becoming Stoke City in 1920.
The club's first, and to date only, major trophy was won in 1972, when Stoke beat Chelsea to win the League Cup.
The Potters have won the Football League Trophy on two occasions, first in 1992 and most recently in 2000.
After having a successful run under Tony Pulis that led the Potters to the Premier League and the FA Cup Final, they are now in a fifth season back in the Championship following relegation in 2018.
How's their form?
Like a number of teams in a congested mid-table, a lack of consistency has been a hindrance to the Potters.
They have won three league games since the World Cup break, with the most recent of those a comprehensive 3-0 success against struggling Huddersfield.
Of their 10 league wins this season, five of them have come on their travels.
Who's the gaffer?
Alex Neil. A former midfielder, Neil was appointed Stoke boss last August following the departure of Michael O’Neill from the bet365 Stadium.
Neil started his managerial career at Scottish side Hamilton Academical in 2013, having skippered them when former Swans assistant Billy Reid held the managerial reins.
He went on to be appointed as player-manager on an interim basis and led the club to promotion back to the Scottish Premier League in his first full season in charge.
Neil took charge of Norwich City in January 2015 and enjoyed a phenomenal first few months in charge, leading the Canaries to promotion to the top-flight with a play-off final victory over Middlesbrough.
However, their time in the top-flight lasted less than 12 months as they suffered relegation the following season.
He left Carrow Road and was appointed as Preston manager in July 2017 and had the Lilywhites challenging for a play-off spot for the majority of his time at Deepdale.
He departed the Lancashire club in 2021, and a year later took the reins at Sunderland to guide the Black Cats back to the Championship via the play-offs.
Who's the captain?
Lewis Baker is currently wearing the captain’s armband for the Potters after being handed the responsibility ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Midfielder Baker joined from Chelsea in January 2022 on a free transfer after an incredible 17-year association with the Blues.
Baker had been on many loan spells during his time at Chelsea at English, Dutch, German and Turkish clubs.
An England youth international, Baker was also an FA Youth Cup winner with Chelsea in 2012.
In 2016, Baker was part of the England squad for the Toulon Tournament and scored the opening goal in the 2–1 victory over France in the final.
His tally of four goals throughout the competition also earned him the Golden Boot award.
Who are the key men?
Veteran Manchester-born centre-half Phil Jagielka has started seven out of eight games for the Potters in 2023, scoring in the recent 3-0 win against Huddersfield Town.
Jagielka started off his career by making his way through the youth ranks of Sheffield United, making his first-team debut in 2000 against Swindon.
After a successful seven years at Bramall Lane, including a promotion to the Premier League, he departed for Everton in 2007.
He was an outstanding servant for the Toffees and made 322 league appearances, scoring 14 goals, over 12 years.
In 2019, he returned to Sheffield United, and has since had spells with Derby County and now Stoke.
Jagielka also won 40 caps for England between 2008 and 2016.
Jacob Brown was Stoke's top scorer last season with 14 goals for the Potters, and he has got six more to his name this season.
The forward started his career in the youth ranks at Sheffield Wednesday before moving on to Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.
Following a loan spell at Chesterfield he broke into the first team at Oakwell and a move to the Potters materialised in September 2020.
He has since scored 27 goals in 128 appearances.
Tyrese Campbell, the son of former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell, has contributed five goals and two assists this season for the Potters.
The young left-footed forward started his footballing career at Man City academy and progressed through the youth teams before signing for Stoke City in 2018.
He made his debut against Leicester City in the Premier League in February 2018 and then had a productive loan spell under former Swansea defender Sam Ricketts at Shrewsbury the following year.
Since that stint he has been a first-team regular for the majority of the last three seasons and has 24 league goals in 110 appearances.