After accumulating titles with Europe’s biggest clubs as a player, Michael Laudrup reached unexpected heights in his first year as Swansea manager on Sunday by guiding the Welsh club to its first major trophy in its centenary season.
In the heaviest victory League Cup final victory, Swansea overwhelmed Bradford 5-0 in front of 82,597 fans at Wembley Stadium to end the northern English club’s hopes of becoming the first fourth-tier side to win a major title in Europe.
Beating Bradford provided a reminder of the depths Swansea has recovered from since coming close to financial meltdown and within 90 minutes of dropping out of the fourth division a decade ago.
Now ninth in its second season of the Premier League, the team’s much-admired brand of eye-catching attacking football has been rewarded with a trophy.
Laudrup, the former Denmark playmaker who filled the void left by Brendan Rodgers’ move to Liverpool in June, never expected success to come so soon.
“It’s one thing to win a cup with Barcelona, Madrid or Juventus, but to win it with a smaller team like Swansea is absolutely fantastic,” Laudrup said. “It’s a first major trophy ever (for Swansea) and, especially in this season, it’s up there with the best things.”