SWANS: ‘He’s a legend’: Matos welcomes John Toshack and the 1981 promotion side back to the Swans

John Toshack was at the Swansea.com Stadium to watch the Swans beat Norwich, and Vitor Matos made sure to say hello.

The 77-year-old, a former Wales and Real Madrid manager, was joined by members of the 1981 side he led into the top flight.

It was his first trip back to his old club from his home in Spain since he spent time on a ventilator in a Spanish hospital with Covid-19 and pneumonia in 2022, and supporters gave him a warm reception before kick-off.

Matos, a former development coach at Liverpool, shares an Anfield connection with Toshack. He said: “He’s a legend, of course. I spoke with him a little bit before the game. It was nice to see him.”

From the Fourth Division to the First in four seasons

Toshack took over as player-manager in 1978 and led the Swans to three promotions in four seasons.

Within weeks of his arrival, a final-day win over Halifax Town took them out of the Fourth Division. A second promotion followed in 1979.

The climb was completed on 2 May 1981, when a 3-1 win at Preston North End sent Swansea into the First Division.

He later managed Wales twice, and his long list of clubs abroad included Real Madrid and Real Sociedad.

As a player, he scored 13 goals in 40 games for Wales. At Liverpool, where he arrived from Cardiff City in 1970, he won three First Division titles and the European Cup.

Six wins from nine: better than 1981 and 2011

The 2-1 win over Norwich was Swansea’s sixth from their opening nine games of the season.

That is more wins than Toshack’s side managed over the same stretch in the season they won promotion to the old First Division.

That team went on to lead the First Division until the final few weeks of the following season.

It is also more than Brendan Rodgers’ 2011 play-off winners managed at the same stage. They are the only other Swansea side to reach the top flight.

‘These legends have all the door open’

Matos was glad to see the 1981 players back. “It was nice to see players from [19]81 here as well. I think that’s quite good,” he said.

“I think the club always should take care of the legends of this club. That shows health and shows care.”

“I think that’s the right way to say it. For me, these players and these legends have all the door open of the club. They know the club much more than me.”

“They love the club much more than me. I’m here to honour them and to make this a place that they feel as well honoured.”

Millwall next, then West Ham United

Matos said after the game that the win showed the “mindset and togetherness” of his squad.

The Swans go to Millwall on Tuesday night, before third-placed West Ham United visit the Swansea.com Stadium next Saturday.