Best Right Back – Swansea City History
If the award was decided purely on passion from supporters, Džemal Hadžiabdić would have walked the left back vote. Sadly for the Bosnian, this was a numbers game and Ben Davies came out on top, meaning he takes the left back spot in our Greatest XI starting line-up. Tatey finished in a respectable third place, while my vote actually went to fourth-placed Neil Taylor, who for me is the most natural left back of the four, but what do I know?
Next up is right back. Personally, I think there might be a clear winner here, but we’ll see what everyone else thinks.
Ángel Rangel
Ángel Rangel represents the modern Swansea story as much as any player. Signed in 2007, he arrived when the club was still in League One and went on to be a key part of the journey to the Premier League and the League Cup victory. Few players have been so closely associated with the club’s rise.
Rangel combined defensive reliability with intelligence on the ball, fitting perfectly into Swansea’s possession-based style under Roberto Martinez, Brendan Rodgers and Michael Laudrup. He was not the fastest or the most physical full back, but his positioning, awareness and decision making made him incredibly consistent over many seasons.
As Swansea moved through the divisions and into the Premier League, Rangel adapted and remained a regular starter, facing some of the best wingers in the world and rarely looking out of place. Longevity, consistency and being part of the most successful period in the club’s history make him one of the strongest candidates in this entire Greatest XI series.
Kyle Naughton
Kyle Naughton represents longevity and consistency across both the Premier League and Championship eras. Since joining Swansea in the Premier League, he has gone on to make hundreds of appearances and has been one of the club’s most reliable players during a period of significant change.
Athletic, versatile and comfortable on the ball, Naughton often played in different roles across the back line and adapted to different managers and styles of play. Whether in a possession-based side or a more defensive setup, he remained a dependable presence.
While he may not always have had the spotlight, his consistency over many seasons and the sheer number of appearances he has made for the club place him firmly among Swansea’s most important modern defenders. Few players in recent years have represented the club with such professionalism and reliability.
Connor Roberts
Connor Roberts represents the academy success story. Coming through Swansea’s youth system, he developed into one of the Championship’s most effective attacking full backs and played a major role in Swansea’s promotion push and playoff campaigns.
Roberts was known for his energy, overlapping runs and ability to contribute goals and assists from right back. He played with aggression and confidence and became a key player in a young Swansea side that re-established itself as a competitive Championship team.
His performances earned him international recognition with Wales and eventually a move to the Premier League. For many supporters, Roberts represents the modern Swansea identity – academy developed, energetic, attacking and ambitious.
Wyndham Evans
Wyndham Evans represents one of the most important eras in Swansea City history – the John Toshack team that climbed from the lower divisions to the First Division in the early 1980s. That period remains one of the club’s greatest achievements.
A solid and dependable defender, Evans was part of a Swansea side that played fearless football and competed against some of the biggest clubs in the country. Players from this era laid the foundations for Swansea’s historical identity and deserve strong representation in any all-time team discussion.
While modern fans may be more familiar with Evans as a commentator on Swans TV (while they watch their dodgy box), the achievements of the early 1980s side remain extraordinary, and Wyndham Evans was an important part of that team.
