Back to the Soccer Newsfeed

Global Soccer: Loyalty Goes a Long Way at Swansea City

LONDON — In some places, loyalty is expendable. At Swansea City it is the glue that binds the team together.

The club’s manager, Garry Monk, played for a decade on a team that was promoted from the fourth tier to the top of English soccer — and from bankruptcy to solvency. Monk’s playing partner in central defense, Ashley Williams, could have gone to wealthier clubs but said before this season began: “I am committed to Swansea. I am in a city that I enjoy living in, and I am playing for a club that I enjoy. Let’s see how far we can go.