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Laudrup named as Swansea boss

Michael Laudrup is a bold appointment by Swansea © Getty Images

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Swansea City have appointed Michael Laudrup as their new manager, ending the search for a replacement for Brendan Rodgers, who left the Liberty Stadium for Liverpool in May.

Laudrup, 48, had been strongly linked with the vacancy in recent days and reportedly impressed the Swansea board in a series of meetings. He has been rewarded with a two-year contract with the Welsh club.

"Swansea City are pleased to confirm the appointment of Michael Laudrup as the club's new manager," a Swansea statement said. "Contracts were completed at noon on a two-year deal."

He has managed at Brondby, Getafe, Spartak Moscow and Real Mallorca and had spoken of his desire to take up the challenge of bossing a Premier League club.

Swansea finished in 11th place in their first season in the top flight after Rodgers had guided them to promotion in a thrilling play-off final against Reading at Wembley.

Ex-Swans manager Jan Molby believes his Danish compatriot Laudrup is the perfect fit at the Liberty Stadium, with a managerial philosophy that suits the club's widely-praised passing style.

"He was strongly influenced by Johan Cruyff when he was at Barcelona in the late 1980s and early 1990s,'' Molby told BBC Sport Wales.

"That's how he wants to play his football, that's how Swansea played last year under Brendan Rodgers, so I think it's a marriage made in heaven.

"They're brave, and it's worked well for them - they've proved they can do it in the Premier League. That's very important for Michael. He won't have to start from scratch with a group of players that maybe aren't comfortable having the ball, being in possession.

"He will maybe add one or two players he might know from Europe, but of course there won't be great changes because there don't need to be."

But Swansea's hopes of completing the signing of Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, who starred for them on loan last season and scored seven goals in 17 games, appear to be fading.

The Swans had agreed a £6.8 million fee with Hoffenheim and settled personal terms with the player, but the departure of Rodgers led Sigurdsson to admit he had reservations about making a permanent move.

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