Richard Stearman | I feel privileged and want to carry on the work we have started

Richard Stearman described being handed the chance to continue as first-team coach at Swansea City as a privilege, having been confirmed as part of Alan Sheehan’s backroom staff ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Stearman, 37, spent the final weeks of last term with the Swans, joining the club for the last eight games as they picked up 17 points from the 24 on offer.

There were five wins and two draws in that sequence as Swansea ended the season as one of the form sides in the division.

And Stearman admits he was confident of being able to continue to work for the club following Sheehan’s own appointment as head coach last month.

“I’m delighted to be asked to continue to work at this great football club,” he said. 

“I feel very thankful and privileged that I’ve been asked to continue the body of work that we set off with last season. 

“In reality my work hadn’t really stopped so it was more of a when rather than if type of scenario. I was always going to continue and I look forward to the challenge ahead. 

“Results obviously help but I thoroughly enjoyed the block of work. It was incredibly intense but I think the results speak for themselves and attest to the sort of buy-in we had from the players and the reaction we had. 

“We were very lucky in that the group of people in the dressing room, in the training ground, the whole club and the fans really bought into what we were trying to do and ultimately that got us success on the pitch. It was a great footing for us going into this season to finish so well. 

“It’s just building from that now. Of course with any season, players will come and go, it’s just trying to bring those players up to speed with what worked so well last year and hopefully that will bring us more success.”

Stearman’s return to south Wales was announced alongside Darren O’Dea’s appointment as assistant head coach.

And the former defender is looking forward to getting down to work with his new colleague.

“Me and Darren have been on contact over the summer and I speak to Alan maybe as much as I talk to my wife,” he said with a smile. 

“We’re in constant dialogue about what we want to do, what we’re trying to achieve, how that looks, and the planning, preparing, reflecting.

“ I’m really looking forward to working with Darren he’s extremely highly qualified from a fantastic club. It’s really exciting to continue the work here but to have him on board as well bodes well for us as staff.”

Stearman faced Swansea on numerous occasions during a playing career that started off at Leicester City, where Sheehan was one of his teammates.

He went on to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fulham, Sheffield United and Derby County. In a career taking in just shy of 500 league appearances, with 77 of those coming in the Premier League.

He made the move into coaching with Solihull Moors, firstly with their academy and then joining their senior staff, prior to his move to south Wales.  

His time on the coaching staff gave some memorable experiences that tallied with impressions of Swansea he had formed when previously facing the club.

When with Wolves he was involved in two memorable draws during the 2011-12 Premier League season; a 2-2 result at Molineux where the hosts scored twice late on to deny the Swans, and a breathless encounter in SA1 eventually ended up with four goals apiece.

“That 4-4 sticks in the memory, we were a goal down after 25 seconds,” he said. 

"I had some fantastic games against Swansea, I really enjoyed those games and the 4-4 obviously sticks out in the memory. 

“It was not just the way that the club play - which is one you have to admire from afar -but the way the club is supported stuck with me. 

“Those times were Premier League games and the stadium was packed and the atmosphere was incredible. The experiences I had playing against Swansea has also carried through to the experiences I’ve had as a staff member. 

“The scenes we saw at the end of last season with the packed houses are incredible. “That’s something that we really think is key for the success of the club, how well it’s supported. 

“It’s our job as staff to get them in but also get them excited, and it’s an aim of ours to be able to do that for this fanbase.”