Swansea City : A traditional ending for many
Wednesday, 6th May 2026 08:00 by Rhys Clayton

Rhys Clayton is back with the Indy end of year assessmen. With in-depth views on our main players at Swansea City the season is brought to a close. Read on, it’s been a ball.

The 2025/26 season is over, and it followed a pattern familiar to Swans fans. Decent start, tails off until the manager gets sacked, upturn following the new manager, very strong end. In some ways it feels like a wasted year. At the time we completed what we thought was a very good summer transfer window, we had a young manager who had done fantastically well in both his interim spells, and something approaching stability in the boardroom. But we should be wise to keep things in perspective - we finish the season level on points with hugely ambitious Birmingham City and just above last year's play-off finalists Sheffield United. That's without mentioning Leicester City marking their 10-year Premier League win with relegation, and West Bromwich Albion narrowly avoiding the same fate.

It is with all this in mind that I try to give an objective and rounded assessment of the players. It just so happens that the 11 players with the most minutes this campaign set up in a neat 4-5-1 formation, with Josh Key at right-back and Ethan Galbraith in midfield. Here we go:

⚽️ GK - Lawrence Vigouroux, 45 games, 4,050 minutes, 8/10

Another fantastic season for our number-one. Vigouroux is 32 years old and at his goalkeeping peak. The Swans have been blessed with a roll-call of wonderful number-ones, going all the way back to Dorus De Vries, through to the more modern loanees of Freddie Woodman and Carl Rushworth. His performance away at Millwall in early January was one of the best keeping performances I've ever seen live from a man in white (or fuchsia to be more accurate). His performances up until January were exceptional, which is not to say the second half was bad, but more solid and competent. He did not save any of his four penalties, though his 12 clean sheets is the joint fourth highest in the league. Since arriving at Swansea Vigouroux has become number ine for his country Chile.

⚽️ LB - Josh Tymon, 45 games, 3,969 minutes, 9/10 (below)

Reliable, consistent, dynamic, unflustered, perceptive. All words you can associate with our brilliant left-back. If you exclude Wrexham's Callum Doyle, who was in the play-offs until almost the very end, only three players in the Championship team of the season are not from the top six teams. Zan Vipotnik, whose goals can't be disputed, and Stoke's Sorba Thomas, with 21 goal involvements. Tymon's numbers are good - 9 assists from a full-back is exceptional, not to mention his only goal won the goal of the season. But as I have written before, his contribution cannot be measured in numbers alone. He brings balance to our whole left side, is a tenacious, dogged defender, the best set-piece deliverer in the team, and he has fantastic football intelligence - he likes to maraude forward yet is rarely caught out of position. What a season.

⚽️ CB - Cameron Burgess, 46 games, 4,140 minutes, 5/10 (below)

I awarded Burgess the Unsung Hero award in my Alternative Awards due to the phenomenal achievement of playing in every minute of the league campaign. Only Ipswich's Dara O'Shea can lay claim to the same accolade in an outfield position. Burgess is a tall and striking presence in the middle of our defence, and I tend to think of him as the Championship's Harry Maguire - he is better on the ball than some give him credit for, but he has an unusual style which can make him look ungainly and agricultural. I know a lot of fans are demanding an upgrade for next year, yet that might be easier said than done. His lowlight of two own-goals at home against Ipswich Town, his old team, is balanced with his brilliant two-goal output against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. Another Swans player who will be at this years World Cup with Australia.

⚽️ CB - Ben Cabango, 45 games, 4035 minutes, 6/10

We should not underestimate how challenging it must have been to adapt to a new centre-back partner. For three seasons, he was playing week in, week out next to Harry Darling, a progressive, touch-friendly partner, and someone with whom he was developing at the same career stage. To suddenly switch to a senior partner with Premier League experience and totally different playing style, while captaining the team through another unstable term, is no easy task. With this in mind, I think Cabango can look back with quiet satisfaction. He is still only 25 (soon 26) but has already racked up 276 appearances and 16 caps for Wales. One senses that the following season could be an important one, to see if he can develop into our next Ashley Williams.

⚽️ RB - Josh Key, 30 games, 2040 minutes, 4/10

I was surprised to find Josh Key in the top 11 of minutes played. Liam Cullen was involved in 10 more games but over 300 minutes fewer. Because it feels like he has barely been involved since Matos came in all the way back in November. Indeed, he did not complete more than a half of football in all of December to February. He was the first choice right-back prior to this, until his confidence was so shot that playing Galbraith as right-back was the only sensible option. I am not sure where he fits into the squad as of now. Assuming he stays, it is generally agreed that Galbraith needs to play in the midfield, which leaves the right-back position open, though it looks like Matos does not trust Key. In addition Sam Parker caught the eye when given the chance in that role recently, alongside Filip Lissah, who is able to play in either full-back role.

⚽️ CM - Marko Stamenic, 36 games, 2,499 minutes, 6/10

I am calling it now, Stamenic is my one to watch next season. He joined the Swans from Forest when the campaign was already well underway, and started 29 games without ever feeling like he was demanding to start every week. I think he has the potential to become the fulcrum we need to build around. Swans fans are already excited about what Melker Widell and Leo Walta can bring to our attacking play next season, but this needs to be balanced with a more sitting midfielder. This could be Stamenic, a player who can disrupt play while also being good on the ball, playing probing passes, and scoring important goals. Let's hope I am right. He will be up against Iran, Egypt and Belgium at the World Cup for New Zealand this summer.

⚽️ CM/RB - Ethan Galbraith, 39 games, 3,108 minutes, 8/10

The find of the season. Even with the positive views of Leyton Orient supporters, few fans expected the Manchester United academy product to be this good. Perhaps one of the most technically gifted, skilful players we have had since our Premier League relegation, we have enjoyed his silky touch, Joe Allen-esque close control in tight spaces, and his tenacious, fighting spirit. He is one of those players where a line-up of 11 Galbraith clones would stand a chance against any other team in the league. In this sense, he reminds me of Gylfi Sigurdsson - a player who combined mercurial ability with total commitment and an underrated physicality, even down to their shorts which seem a couple of sizes too long. Having said all that, his high point was probably not even for the Swans. Galbraith was the standout player when Northern Ireland narrowly lost to Germany in October, upstaging many of the illustrious opposition players. Even before the injury, his performances had slightly plateaued since February, but sorting out his new contract is priority number one this summer.

⚽️ CM - Goncalo Franco, 45 games, 3,262 minutes, 7/10

Franco (below) has captured the hearts and minds of the Swansea City fans. His end of season social media post would be saccharine and contrived from most players, but you tend to believe him when he says how much the club means to him. His debut campaign would always be hard to top, and he indeed did not perform to the same levels. Things started to turn just before Matos came in, and continued on an upward trend until the end, with the overall highlight being the beautiful controlled volley finish away at Blackburn in late September. If Stamenic plays to his potential next season like in the scenario I outline above, Franco could become more of a Plan B, as I think his ceiling is lower than the New Zealander's. But for the moment, let's enjoy his energy, commitment and enthusiasm on and off the pitch. I am already looking forward to the South Wales Derby as much as he is.

⚽️ RW - Ronald, 45 matches, 3,116 minutes, 4/10

The mere fact that Ronald is amongst the top 11 for minutes will drive many fans to despair. The viral moment of Clinton Morrison labelling him Ronald McDonald on Soccer Saturday sums up his reputation. Firstly, and as mentioned previously on the Indy, we should praise the winger for his durability and professionalism. The stereotypical Brazilian winger does not scream robustness, however up until the recent Southampton game Ronald had not missed a league game since he joined the club in January 2024. It cannot have been easy for a young player to adapt to a new league, new style, and new country and language, not to mention a team struggling for consistency. Equally, wingers are by their nature the most inconsistent. Yet there is no doubt that Ronald has underperformed. His lack of goals and assists reflect an accurate story (4 goals, 5 assists), albeit the severe criticism he gets online is often gratuitous and exaggerated. The fact he has missed many chances and fails to deliver a telling final ball shows he is capable of getting in good positions and creating dangerous situations. Given the likely lack of suitors in the summer, Ronald will be at the Swans next year. It will be up to him to show early on that he deserves to keep his starting position.

⚽️ LW - Ji-Sung Eom, 44 games, 2,458 minutes, 5/10

Eom (below) and Ronald are often lumped in together but they have quite different games. Eom is much more likely to cut inside, and has a better delivery and controlled shot. This is why we should expect more from the South Korean. Similar to Ronald, some of the criticism of Eom is unwarranted and he is regularly selected for his country, a nation that has a huge football culture and a large base of players. He has a good understanding with Tymon, and can give his opposing right-back problems. The fantastic photo - exclusive to the Indy - of his springing leap against Portsmouth away shows his athleticism. He needs to use this more, and trust his pace and skill to go on the outside as well, to keep his opponent honest. He will most likely get minutes in the World Cup, with South Korea hoping to progress from their group of Czech Republic, Mexico and South Africa.

⚽️ CF - Zan Vipotnik, 44 games, 2,954 minutes, 9/10

If a flawless Harry Kane is the gold standard 10/10, Vipotnik falls just short with a still fantastic 9/10. The most impressive aspect was the consistent goal scoring in an inconsistent team. It is scarcely believable now that in our first home game against Sheffield United, Liam Cullen started up front and was replaced by Bobby Wales late on. Vipotnik stayed on the bench. He came on in the next game against Watford, scored a late equaliser, and did not stop since. What's more, there were plenty of games where the Swans were struggling and offering little service, and in those games he still exerted influence by leading the press relentlessly, holding the ball up when possible, and trying to bring the wingers into play. The Stoke away game is a good example, among many others, where he helped turn a game by taking a snap chance with a clinical finish. The Swans were 2-0 down and a clear second best until his goal, and we ended the game unlucky to not get a point. He ends the campaign as the league's top scorer by six clear goals, outperforming his xG by nine goals, and an inclusion in the EFL's team of the season. A good friend of mine is Slovenian, and I would message him a Slovenian flag after every goal. I used it so often it is now the 3rd most used emoji in my phone. It seems unlikely but I hope I will be using it again in August.

Manager, Vitor Matos, 31 games 14W, 5D, 12L, 9/10

It is not straightforward to rate Matos. (Below) Do you give the rating relative to where we were or as a standalone output? The former rating would suggest exceptional, the latter still very good with some flaws. The Portuguese has combined a phlegmatic, calming touchline presence, strolling with his hands in his pockets; with a compassion for his players and a genuine connection with the fans. I have always admired how Phil Parkinson has handled the Wrexham hullabaloo. In a similar vein, I liked how the self-effacing Matos handled the Snoop circus, and he could be our calming figurehead if the Snoop Dogg project comes to fruition. I was toying between an 8/10 or a 9/10, but seeing Vitor pulling pints at The Railway after Saturday's game left only one option.

Jack Army, 10/10

Call me biased, but I give the only flawless score to our fans. I am not going to call us the best fans in the division, because that title is endlessly subjective (and would probably go to Sheffield Wednesday anyway?) yet one thing is certain. Swansea City fans travel further than almost any other club in the division (approx. 30 miles fewer than Middlesbrough). There will be fans who have not missed a game this season, traipsing to Blackburn midweek, braving arctic temperatures in East London in early January, and facing a hostile welcome when intruding in "foreign" territory in a certain part of North Wales. 19,000 Jacks filled out the Swans.com on Saturday for a dead rubber, and sold out the likes of Portsmouth away during a midweek game with little riding on it. All this, lest we forget, when food, transport, tickets, and accommodation prices are prohibitively high - and this before most of us could place the Strait of Hormuz on a map. The Indy won't be resting on the beach this summer, though our fans certainly should be. Up the Jacks.