Italian manager Francesco Guidolin became the first manager to be sacked in the 2016-'17 Premier League season after Welsh club Swansea City announced, on Monday, that the club had parted company with him. Former coach of the United States national team Bob Bradley has been appointed as Guidolin's successor
Swansea have had a poor start to the current season, losing five of their last six games and are currently at 17th spot in the table. They went down 1-2 to Liverpool on Saturday.
Guidolin was appointed as the permanent coach of Swansea only in the summer after taking over in January last year on an interim basis, and was asked to keep the side in the Premier League. It is understood that Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs was also considered as a replacement for Guidolin but Bradley's superior experience and "strong leadership qualities" earned him the job.
Huw Jenkins, the Swansea City chairman, stated that they look at the 58-year-old American as a long-term replacement, and was quoted as saying, "We are delighted Bob [Bradley] has agreed to join us. He is highly regarded as a coach and has a wealth of experience on the international and domestic front. He is well aware of the club’s footballing philosophy and will provide us with strong leadership qualities and a renewed belief to compete at this level. It is never easy changing managers, but we are looking at a long-term appointment and we are confident Bob can settle us down and stabilise matters on and off the pitch.”
Bradley, who becomes the first American in charge of a Premier League club, will have a tough first test as manager as his side will face a high-flying Arsenal on October 15.
