Let’s remember: The greatest one season wonder ever
- Mr Takes
- Jan 11, 2022
- 4 min read
The year was 2012 and in the summer transfer window we see names like Olivier Giroud, Eden Hazard and Robin van Persie as some of the headlines of a fairly uneventful transfer window to the standards set these days. But there was one man who would have a greater impact on the season, my life and I imagine the world (don’t fact check me on that). His name is Michu.
I’ll be completely transparent I knew nothing of Michu when Swansea signed him so being the diligent fan that I am I did no research and would judge him instantly on his first game. He came out against QPR, where as a local to London I was in attendance, and you could tell he was the absolute dog’s bollocks from the first minute. He scored two goals that day that were maybe the highest quality thing I had ever seen in a Swansea City player and have genuinely never seen again. He could do things on a Football pitch that has every football fan aroused he was simply that good.
Following that goals were being banged in left right and centre. Then came some of the greatest nights of my life where I managed to attend all the games. Firstly, it was Arsenal away. This was in the days of Wenger and some actual high-level players unlike the current mess so I expected nothing. We held on for about 75-80 minutes only for Michu to score two one-on-ones that were as clinical as R9 in his prime. I am convinced that Michu that season was the safest bet to finish when it was just the keeper to beat, I would put my house on it. The away end was absolutely bouncing on a random Tuesday night 265km from Swansea. It was truly BANANA’S and I LOVED it. All of this caused by one man. Next was the biggest day for a Swansea fan as we won the Carabao. Now for many football fans this trophy is rejected as something minor and not worth bragging about. Well, that opinion is, to be honest, complete bullshit. This is because teams like Swansea are not supposed to win it especially playing against Bradford from League 2 of all people. To be honest it was an absolute shit kicking with Michu opening the scoring and the Swans going on to win 5-0. This now can never be taken away from us as fans as we entered a competition with the likes of Chelsea, Man utd and Arsenal and came out on top. This meant we entered the Europa League, the thing Arsenal got kicked out of tonight hate to rub it in. But it put Swansea on the map even if it was for a fleeting moment in time. This all being behind the confidence of a team playing with the greatest player walking the earth on his day. (over-exaggeration but give me this one ok)
Michu managed to score 18 league goals that season which is more than all but two players have managed to do so far this season. This still blows my mind to this day that Fucking Swansea had an elite player like this. This is like the Bears having a QB who leads the league in TD’s or Mets fans being happy. It just straight up doesn’t happen and it definitely doesn’t happen to me. I will be guaranteed at least twice a year will watch all the goals he scored for Swansea because it brings me back to that time and the pure elation one player brought me. That’s why this sport thing is so fucking beautiful because it draws out emotion like that because if you’re a sports fan I guarantee that you have that one season, game or play that you watch over and over again just to take you back to happier times and away from all the suck that your team and the world are in.
From there Michu got a call up to the Spanish squad who had won the Euros that very year to truly show he was considered elite. From there the problems really started as he missed almost a whole year through ankle injuries and he still managed to get a loan move to Napoli the next year who are a genuine European giant. He only managed 6 games that whole year and was released from Swansea shortly after. This was effectively the end for Michu as chronic ankle injuries stopped him playing leading him to Retire in 2017 at the young age of 31. This story really and truly has it all with the highs and lows of professional sport and the bitch it can be. Then make it crazier by all happening in about 5 years from top to bottom. A one hit wonder of Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five with The Message which is an unbelievable reference and you should go listen to it. Michu will always be favourite player to play for Swansea for the quality, the weirdness and just how fucking memorable it is.
P.S watch the above video it fucks
Comentários