Best Attacking Midfield for Swansea EVER?

If choosing our greatest centre-halves was difficult, selecting the central midfielders was almost impossible!

Last month’s vote proved just how blessed Swansea City have been in the engine room. Leon Britton came out on top, with Joe Allen joining him in our all-time XI, while Ferrie Bodde, Matt Grimes, Tommy Hutchison, John Cornforth and John Mahoney all attracted plenty of support.

One interesting talking point was that the top four all came from the modern era. Whether that’s because we’ve genuinely been blessed with outstanding midfielders over the last 25 years or simply a touch of recency bias is up for debate. Either way, the voting was remarkably well spread, showing just how many outstanding players Swansea supporters have had the privilege of watching in the centre of the park.

This month’s category presented us with a very different challenge.

The quality was certainly there, but the positions weren’t always so clear-cut. The modern game neatly divides players into No. 6s, No. 8s and No. 10s, but for much of Swansea City’s history those labels simply didn’t exist. Some of the club’s greatest footballers played as inside-forwards, others drifted between midfield and attack, while several were given the freedom to roam wherever they could influence a game.

Which brings us neatly to Robbie James.

Following the central midfield vote, no player featured more in your feedback. Many of you felt Robbie simply had to be included in that category, and it’s a perfectly fair point. The reality is that he could comfortably have featured in either list. Rather than squeezing him into an already crowded central midfield vote, we felt this was the more natural home within the overall series, alongside players whose greatest strength was creating, inspiring and deciding matches in the final third.

As always, there are no right or wrong answers. Football has evolved, formations have changed and every supporter will have their own opinion. That’s exactly what makes these polls so much fun.

So, who is Swansea City’s greatest attacking midfielder?

Gylfi Sigurðsson – Some players entertain, some produce moments of magic and some carry a team on their shoulders. Gylfi Sigurðsson somehow managed all three.

Signed on loan in January 2012, the Icelandic playmaker made such an immediate impact that he became one of the Premier League’s standout performers, scoring seven goals in just 18 league appearances. He returned for a second spell in 2014 and went on to establish himself as the heartbeat of Garry Monk’s and later Paul Clement’s sides, finishing his Swansea career with 37 goals in 124 appearances and becoming the club’s highest goalscorer in the Premier League era.

Gifted with outstanding vision, immaculate technique and a wand-like right foot, Gylfi could unlock the tightest of defences with a single pass or settle a match with a stunning free-kick or long-range strike. He was equally capable of scoring, creating and controlling the tempo of a game, making him one of the finest attacking midfielders ever to wear the white shirt.

Twice named Swansea City’s Player of the Season, his influence was such that Everton eventually paid a then club-record fee to prise him away from South Wales. For many supporters, no player has epitomised the modern No. 10 role at Swansea City better than Gylfi Sigurðsson.

Stephen Dobbie – Some players are remembered for the number of games they played. Others are remembered for the moments they created. Stephen Dobbie undoubtedly falls into the latter category.

A wonderfully gifted footballer with superb close control, quick feet and a natural eye for goal, Dobbie was at his best playing just behind the main striker, where his intelligence and creativity caused problems for defences. Whether starting a match or coming off the bench, he had an uncanny ability to change a game and seemed to save many of his finest performances for the biggest occasions.

His contribution to Swansea City’s unforgettable promotion to the Premier League in 2011 will never be forgotten. Dobbie was a key figure throughout the campaign and crowned it with a brilliantly taken goal in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, helping the Swans to a famous 4-2 victory over Reading and their first-ever promotion to the Premier League.

A firm favourite with the Jack Army, Dobbie may never have been the biggest name in the squad, but he was so often the player who made the difference. His knack of delivering in the biggest moments has secured his place in Swansea City folklore, and few players from the modern era are remembered with greater affection.

Jonathan de Guzmán – Few players have looked as comfortable in possession as Jonathan de Guzmán. Signed on loan by Michael Laudrup in 2012, the Dutch midfielder quickly became a key figure in one of the most successful teams in Swansea City’s history.

Blessed with superb vision, outstanding technique and an effortless passing range, de Guzmán made the game look easy. Whether dictating the tempo from midfield, unlocking a defence with a perfectly weighted pass or delivering from a dead-ball situation, he played with a calmness and intelligence that perfectly suited Swansea’s possession-based style. He also had a habit of producing on the biggest occasions, memorably scoring twice in the Swans’ historic 5-0 victory over Bradford City in the 2013 League Cup Final at Wembley, securing the club’s first major trophy.

Although he spent just two seasons in South Wales, de Guzmán left an unforgettable impression. He helped Swansea win the League Cup, qualify for Europe and produce some of the finest football in the club’s history. Stylish, composed and a joy to watch, he was the perfect playmaker for the Laudrup era and remains one of the most gifted midfielders ever to wear the famous white shirt.

Robbie James – There are legends, and then there is Robbie James.

For many Swansea City supporters, he is simply the Swans player. Making an astonishing 593 appearances and scoring 149 goals across two spells at the club, Robbie was the heartbeat of one of the greatest periods in Swansea’s history. A driving, energetic midfielder blessed with an eye for goal, he helped the Swans climb from the Fourth Division to the First in just four remarkable seasons before playing a starring role as John Toshack’s side finished sixth in the top flight.

Blessed with incredible stamina, a fierce competitive streak and a thunderous shot, Robbie could influence a game like few others. He was just as happy breaking up attacks as he was charging forward to score or create goals, and his all-action style made him a favourite with the Vetch Field faithful. Whether wearing the captain’s armband or simply leading by example, Robbie was the driving force behind countless memorable Swansea performances and set the standard for those around him.

Robbie also represented Wales 47 times, but it is in Swansea that his legacy burns brightest. Tragically, in February 1998, he collapsed and died while playing for Llanelli at the age of just 40, a loss that stunned Welsh football. Today, his bust stands proudly outside the Swansea.com Stadium as part of the Robbie James Wall of Fame, a fitting tribute to one of the club’s greatest-ever servants. Few players have meant more to Swansea City, and few ever will.

Michu – Some players leave a mark on a football club. Michu became a legend in little more than a season. Signed from Rayo Vallecano in the summer of 2012 for around £2 million, the Spaniard proved to be one of the greatest bargains in Premier League history. Comfortable playing as an attacking midfielder or leading the line, Michu possessed exceptional movement, a wonderful first touch and an instinctive eye for goal. Defenders simply couldn’t cope with his intelligence, timing and clinical finishing.

His first season in South Wales could hardly have gone better. Michu scored 22 goals in all competitions, played a pivotal role in Swansea’s League Cup triumph and helped the club qualify for Europe for the first time in its history. From stunning volleys to composed one-on-ones, he had an uncanny ability to make the spectacular look effortless.

Persistent injuries meant his time at the club was shorter than anyone would have wished, but that did little to diminish his legacy. For one unforgettable campaign, Michu was among the finest players in the Premier League and the face of one of the greatest teams Swansea City has ever produced. Few signings have given supporters so much joy in such a short space of time.

Ivor Allchurch – Few players have done more to shape Swansea City’s history than Ivor Allchurch. Known affectionately as ‘The Golden Boy’, he combined elegance, intelligence and extraordinary footballing ability to become one of the finest players ever produced by Wales.

Although football was very different during his era, Allchurch’s role as an inside-forward would today be recognised as that of an attacking midfielder. Blessed with exceptional vision, a wonderful range of passing and remarkable composure on the ball, he seemed to glide through matches, creating chances as effortlessly as he scored them. His footballing brain was years ahead of its time, earning admiration from team-mates, opponents and supporters alike.

Allchurch made more than 400 appearances across two spells with Swansea, scoring well over 160 goals, while also winning 68 caps for Wales and starring at the 1958 World Cup, where Wales famously reached the quarter-finals. A true footballing gentleman, his influence extended far beyond statistics, inspiring generations of players who followed. More than half a century after his debut, ‘The Golden Boy’ remains one of the greatest footballers ever to wear the famous white shirt.