Swansea City: First year a ‘whirlwind’ for Luke Williams as 2025 target set

Luke Williams says his first year as Swansea City head coach has been a “whirlwind” as he targets a play-off push in 2025.

Williams joined the Swans from Notts County on 5 January following the departure of Michael Duff a month earlier.

He steered the club to safety in the latter half of the 2023-24 campaign – with Swansea sitting 10th at the midway stage of the current Championship season.

And the 43-year-old believes focusing on performance will go a long way to ensuring Swansea can challenge for a top six spot.

“It’s been a real whirlwind. I’m incredibly proud to be the head coach of this club, I love this club,” he told BBC Sport Wales.

“It’s wonderful, but it’s incredibly challenging as well.

“We’re out there playing to try and win as many games as we can. I think we know that we have to concentrate on performing in the correct way.”

The Swans sign off the calendar year against Luton Town in south Wales on Sunday afternoon (15:00 GMT kick-off).

Matt Grimes finished off a fine corner routine to earn Swansea a point in their most recent meeting with the Hatters at Kenilworth Road on 7 December.

Assistant coach and former caretaker head coach Alan Sheehan plays a key role in Swansea’s set-piece preparation, and before the return fixture with Luton, Williams praised the Irishman for his work on the training ground.

“Honestly it’s a joy to watch,” added Williams.

“I see Alan go through the routines with the players on the training pitch and it’s really exciting.

“You can see if it’s slightly wrong, he’ll do it again and he corrects the details.

“He can see everything when it’s potentially not quite right and it’s a work of art.

“When you see it come off in a game, it’s a special feeling.”