Match Preview: Cardiff City vs. Swansea City
The Bluebirds continue their 2019/20 Sky Bet Championship campaign as they return to CCS to host the Swans on Sunday afternoon - kick-off at 12pm.
The Opposition
Swansea City are currently in sixth place on the Sky Bet Championship league table, with 41 points taken thus far in their current campaign. In their most recent league outing, the Swans defeated Charlton Athletic 1-0 at the liberty Stadium on January 2nd. Yan Dhanda broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, as the hosts managed to then defend their lead for the remainder.
André Ayew is the Swans' top goalscorer so far in their current campaign, having netted 11 times for Sunday's opponents. The Ghanaian international last scored for his side on Boxing Day in a 3-1 defeat against Brentford at Griffin Park.
The striker began his senior career at French Ligue 1 club Marseille in 2007, going on to make a total more than 200 appearances for Les Phocéens across an eight year spell, before moving to play at the Liberty Stadium in 2015.
Following a season with the Swans, Ayew made the move the West Ham United, spending a year and a half with the Hammers before returning to South Wales. With a loan spell to Turkish outfit Fenerbahçe for the 2018/19 season completed, Ayew returned once again to play for Swansea City in time for the start of the 2019/20 campaign.
In the Hot Seat
Steve Cooper is Swansea City’s manager, having taken over at the club in June 2019. Cooper’s career in football began as a player, where he made appearances for several Welsh clubs, with notable spells at The New Saints, Rhyl and Bangor City.
Switching to management, Cooper moved from being in charge of youth development at Wrexham to then eventually managing Liverpool’s academy, and later England’s U16 and U17 side.
Cooper led England’s U17 side to win the 2017 U17 World Cup in India, defeating Spain 5-2 in the Final. Following five years in the role in England’s international youth setup, Cooper joined Swansea City over the summer for his first senior managerial role. The Pontypridd-born coach is the son of former Premier League referee, Keith.
Club Connections
Some current squad members for either club that have made appearances for both sides include Jazz Richards, Declan John and Wayne Routledge.
Jazz began his professional career at the Liberty Stadium after spending time in the youth system with both sides. After leaving Swansea City for Fulham in 2015, the defender joined the Bluebirds one year later, signing for City in July 2016.
Declan John began at Cardiff City, leaving CCS in 2017 for Rangers, initially on loan, before moving back to South Wales with the Swans in 2018. Wayne Routledge's time in the capital came during our last season at Ninian Park - on loan from Aston Villa - making nine appearances and netting twice.
John Toshack's career in football is firmly rooted in his time spent with both clubs. Born in Cardiff and raised in Canton, Tosh began his playing career as a youngster playing at Ninian Park, having an immediate impact as a goalscoring forward as he scored on his debut against Leyton Orient, aged just 16.
Scoring 74 goals in 162 league appearances for the Bluebirds between 1965-1970, Toshack made the move from the Second Division to the top flight with Liverpool, and spent a further eight years with at Anfield before moving to play for Sunday's opponents.
Switching to becoming a player-manager with the Swans, Toshack was at the helm as the side climbed from the Fourth Division into the top flight, before then leaving the club in 1984.
Amongst several other players who made appearances for both sides are the likes of Alan Curtis, Don Murray, Andy Legg, Ivor Allchurch, Jason Bowen, Terry Boyle, Steven Caulker and Roger Gibbins.
