Michael Laudrup deserves credit, big time credit.
After delivering Swansea City their first major trophy in the clubโs 100 year history this past spring, journos across the globe (myself included) pegged him to leave the Liberty Stadium for a more prestigious throne.
It was a move he seemed destined to make.
After all, three of his previous four club managerial appointments (Getafe, Spartak Moscow, Mallorca) had been one-and-dones. Only his first managerial stint, at boyhood club Brรธndby, extended beyond one season.
He moved on for a variety of reasons, but mainly because of ambition and an inability to deal with boards, chairmen and owners who didnโt give him what he wanted. The later, of course, was largely a product of the former. Michael Laudrup simply wants to win.
That was the clear objective when the Dane arrived in South Wales last summer. His influence was immediate, bringing in a collection of high value, low cost players โ Jonathan de Guzman (free loan), Chico Flores (ยฃ2 million [$3m]), Michu (ยฃ2 million [$3m]), Ki Sung-Yueng (ยฃ6 million [$9m]), Pablo Hernandez (ยฃ6 million [$9m]) โ who would prove pivotal to the clubโs League Cup triumph and 9th place finish in the league.
It was that success that raised eyebrows amongst big clubs across the globe. โYes, there were clubs โ a couple of big ones as well โ who wanted me,โ Laudrup said.
Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain, Fenerbahce and Monaco were among the superpowers reportedly interested in bringing Laudrup to the next level. Yet with the lure of managerial riches and Champions League football, Laudrup signed a one year extension in March to continue managing the Swans.
But even after that move, many believed Laudrup might still be on his way out of Swansea. So when word hit papers that Laudrup was entangled in a bitter dispute with chairman Huw Jenkins over transfer funds, rumors regarding the managerโs pending departure kicked in to overdrive.
As Swans supporters gnawed their collective fingernails, the club started making moves.
First was the decision to bring in Jose Canas from Real Betis on a free. Then the Swans brought in cover at center-back, buying Juan Amat from Espanyol for ยฃ2 million ($3m), and at attacking midfield, signing Alejandro Pozuelo from Betis for ยฃ400k ($603k).
Despite the activity, the cut-rate prices didnโt seem to suggest that Laudrup was winning his transfer fund battle over Jenkins. That began to change last week when Jenkins matched his most expensive signing from 2012-13 by dropping ยฃ6 million ($9m) on Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey.
Today, however, it became crystal clear that Laudrup had gotten his way when Swansea smashed their transfer record by agreeing to a ยฃ12 million ($18m) deal to sign Ivory Coast international Wilfried Bony from Vitesse Arnhem. Signing Bony, who was the top scorer in the Eredivisie last season having scored 31 goals in just 30 matches, is a clear statement of the Swansโ intent to compete at the highest level.
And with that, all is well in South Wales. Laudrup has his signings and the board has a manager who they donโt need to worry about resigning. โ[I]t wasnโt about saying I wanted this, this and this. Or I want ยฃ18m, ยฃ21m or ยฃ24m. It was about knowing we had to strengthen our team,โ Laudrup told the South Wales Echo.
So credit to both sides on working through turmoil, but especially to Laudrup for fighting off the sweet smell of a big club move when it seemed easier than not to do so.
โYes, there were clubs โ a couple of big ones as well โ who wanted me,โ Laudrup admitted. โBut I didnโt have to speak to anyone because I want to stay here. Please, never again ask me about my future โ itโs a waste of time.โ
Well, then. That settles that.
