Monk's the man
4th February
Garry Monk has been pivotal to Swansea City's rise in the last ten years, both as a player and influential figure in the changing room.
With Monk stepping up to his new Head Coach role at the club following Michael Laudrup's departure, here is the full background on the man that has been a key figure in the Swans' success over the past decade.
Monk joined the Swans, then in League Two, on a free transfer from Barnsley in June 2004.
The centre-back has enjoyed huge success at the club, having played a key role in three promotions along with lifting the Football League Trophy and Capital One Cup.
He is one of only a few players to have captained the same team in all four divisions of the English pyramid.
Monk helped the Swans to promotion from League Two in his first season with the club before a heartbreaking Play-Off Final defeat to Barnsley in the following campaign.
He was then named captain in August 2006 following Roberto Martinez's exit from the club. However, a cruciate ligament injury sustained in just the second game of the campaign ended the defender's season.
The next campaign, however, was far more successful for both player and club as Monk captained the Swans to the League One title with a club-record 92 points as they returned to the second tier of English football for the first time in 24 years.
In its third year in the Championship, the club would reach the Promised Land as Monk and Co saw off Reading 4-2 at Wembley in the Play-Off Final, with Monk's perfectly-timed block proving crucial in the victory.
Monk missed the opening few games of the following season due to injury, but returned to captain the side in the club's first Barclays Premier League victory courtesy of a 3-0 win over West Brom in a season in which the Swans finished 11th under Brendan Rodgers.
He made 15 appearances in all competitions last term under Laudrup, and came off the bench in the Capital One Cup Final win over Bradford City at Wembley.
This season, Monk handed over the captaincy to Ashley Williams, though he remained as club captain.
The 34-year-old underwent knee surgery in November, with his only appearance coming in the Capital One Cup defeat at Birmingham City.
Monk, who has made 270 appearances for the Swans, is currently working towards obtaining his Uefa A licence.
