EPL: Gary Monk is Swansea manager

Garry Monk has been appointed permanent
Swansea manager on a three-year contract.
Monk was made interim player-manager in
February following the sacking of Michael
Laudrup and has since guided the club to four
wins and three draws from 13 Premier League
fixtures.
The former captain, who joined Swansea as a
League Two club 10 years ago, secured their
top-flight status after a 4-1 victory over Aston
Villa last month, claiming back-to-back wins
for the first time in 16 months.
Current coach Josep (Pep) Clotet has been
named assistant to the 35-year-old, who said
he was thrilled to be given "the opportunity of
a lifetime".
"It is the proudest moment of my career,"
Monk told the club's website.
"I'm honoured the club thinks so highly of me
to give me this chance. It's the opportunity of
a lifetime - and one I fully intend to take.
"I have had a taste of the job for the last three
months and it's something I've really enjoyed.
Now I'm really looking forward to the next
phase in my life and the club's progression.
"I'll be looking to stamp my authority on the
squad and the club - and take it forward. I
have a plan in my mind and with the help of
the chairman and the board how to implement
it."
"We are delighted to confirm Garry as our new
first-team manager," chairman Huw Jenkins
said.
"As a board of directors, we carefully
considered our next step because it was a
very important decision for our football club.
"But having gone through that process, we
unanimously agreed that the timing was right
for Garry to be offered the job on a permanent
basis.
"As we look forward to our fourth season in
the Premier League, we all agreed that we
needed to get back to basics and reinforce the
principles that have brought us success in
recent years.
"Garry represents all the strong values we
hold so dearly as a football club and everyone
is looking forward to working with him.
"We have all been impressed with his work-
rate and commitment since taking over the
reins in February and how he adapted in very
difficult circumstances to secure the points we
needed to remain in the top-flight.
"Garry will work with the current staff to
refocus and improve the playing squad over
the summer in order to build a strong,
competitive team for another big challenge
that lies ahead next season.''