There are some things in life that you think may be meant to be and Garry Monk being appointed as manager of Swansea City was clearly one of them because it could have been so different for the current Swans boss.

Monk was the surprise decision of the Swans to take the managers job when they decided to part company with Michael Laudrup in February last year. Whilst there were immediate links of 'bigger' names it was Monk that the Swans wanted and after a temporary period he was appointed to the permanent role at the end of the 2013/14 season.

Around 15 months on and Monk is one of the most talked about managers in the Premier League after leading the Swans to a record breaking 8th place in the league last season and starting this in a similar vein with that superb performance at Chelsea last weekend.

But the Swans boss knows it could have been so different and had the Swans decided to hold onto Laudrup for a little while longer then he could have been away from South Wales and who knows what fate would have then had in store.

Monk said: “I was close to joining Bristol City on loan just before it (Laudrup’s sacking) happened, then I had a back spasm, which was only going to last a week, but they needed somebody that week.

“It probably would have changed history for me if I had been out of the building on loan. It’s mad, it was probably a lucky back spasm.

“I can understand people didn’t expect me to succeed — but I did, 100 per cent. At that point, I didn’t go in and pretend I was a manager. It was all about the group sticking together and staying up. The chairman told me, ‘If you do well, I’m not going to consider anyone else’.

“I’m under no illusions what a great opportunity this is. As a club, though, we have been ­imaginative. You look at Brendan, he didn’t succeed at Reading but he was right for Swansea. Same with Roberto, who had zero experience. We have shown as a club that thinking outside the box can make you successful.”

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls