Swansea's pride over Wales contingent - and hope for more
2026 World Cup qualifying: Wales v Kazakhstan
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Saturday, 22 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC One Wales, iPlayer, BBC Sport website and app, plus S4C via iPlayer. Text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app. Listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Sport Extra.
The likes of Ben Davies and Joe Rodon have long since departed, but their pictures continue to adorn the walls at Swansea City's academy.
The same is true of Connor Roberts, Daniel James and Josh Sheehan, the three other Swansea old boys in the Wales squad for World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan on Saturday and North Macedonia next week.
There are photographs too of the four other ex-academy players – Joe Allen, Ollie Cooper, Liam Cullen and Ben Cabango – who are away with Wales but remain part of Swansea's senior side.
The nine Swansea products made up exactly a third of the Wales party named by Craig Bellamy earlier this month, which is some achievement for the club's youth set-up.
"It's exceptional, it really is, and credit goes to everybody involved in the processes along the way," says Alan Sheehan, Swansea's caretaker boss.
Every graduate who makes it to senior international level becomes a poster boy at Swansea's academy, which is a few hundred yards from the club's stadium in Landore.
The hope is that those following in their footsteps in youth football will be inspired to emulate their achievements on the senior stage.
"I think it's very important to have the players coming through and more importantly for the players to feel that if they hit the level, the door is open for them," Sheehan adds.
The belief at Swansea is that there are more players ready to push through, initially into their first team then, a little further down the line, the national side.
Questions asked - but mood is 'upbeat'
For all the recent successes – and there have been others, such as Oli McBurnie and Ali Al-Hamadi – questions have been asked about prospects for the future at Swansea.
The club downgraded the status of the academy from category one – the top level – to category two in 2020, in order to save money following relegation from the Premier League two years earlier.
Some coaches have departed, and there have been stories doing the rounds about talented youngsters opting to go elsewhere.
Yet Swansea Under-21 boss Anthony Wright, who joined the staff 12 years ago, knows more than most about what it takes to produce players good enough to make the grade.
And while he acknowledges there have been difficult times as a result of reductions in funding, Wright believes Swansea are back on the right track.
"I have seen the best and I have seen what it's like when it's been stripped back as well," he says.
"There's been tough times - there are tough moments. But over the last 12 months... I am really upbeat about the way we are going as an academy again.
"I think we are on the right track to really go and produce another batch of players in the next couple of seasons."
From Gerrard and Owen to academy coach
Alongside fellow coach Jon Grey – who left Swansea to become part of the Wales women's team's coaching staff two years ago – Wright has worked with many of the players aiming to make a positive start to World Cup qualifying in the next few days.
Wright, 45, grew up not far from the Swansea.com Stadium in Townhill, but spent his formative years in Liverpool's youth set-up, where he was in the same year as Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen.
"That was a good grounding in terms of what elite academy football looks like," Wright says.
A midfielder, he joined Oxford United after leaving Anfield at 16 and made a handful of senior appearances in what is now the Championship before spending most of his playing career in the Welsh top flight.
Wright's first job at Swansea was coaching the under-12s on a part-time basis, but he has since climbed the ranks to reach the top level of academy football.
He says the emergence in recent years of such a stellar crop of youngsters at Swansea is partly down to the individual qualities of Rodon, Cabango and the rest, and partly the result of an academy "doing something quite special".
"The level of coaches we had was excellent right through the ages and what we do here is unique," Wright adds.
"We had a philosophy, we still do to this day, and we have clear values within players that are very important for us.
"I think what we do on the ground certainly has an input - the environment where you have to be humble, hard-working and driven to be the best you can. That all combines really well for these players to succeed, but it's also about the players as well."
Wright credits Gavin Levey, who left Aberdeen to become Swansea's academy director in October 2023, for "steadying the ship" since his arrival in Wales after what he describes as "quite a tough time" around 18 months ago.
And he argues Swansea's continued willingness to be patient with emerging players "if they are not ready at 19" has reaped rewards.
"Joe [Rodon], Ben, Ollie Cooper, Cullen - we have waited," he says.
"It gives those players a chance to mature and to establish themselves."
- How James became the 'main man' for Leeds and Wales
- 'That'll hurt forever' - World Cup pain drives Bellamy
- Latest Swansea City news, analysis and fan views
It would be no shock should Sam Parker be the next Swansea product to make his way into the Wales squad.
Cardiff-born Parker made the first-team breakthrough at 17 in December 2023.
Parker's progress has been hampered by injury since, but Wright expects him to flourish in the first team alongside centre-back Filip Lissah - an Englishman who joined Swansea at 16 after leaving Chelsea - who has also had fitness troubles this season.
Then there are the likes of Joel Cotterill and Cameron Congreve, who will be given their chance in pre-season having impressed during loan spells in League Two in this campaign, and Ben Lloyd, who made his senior Swansea debut in December.
"We have certainly got players who are going to be knocking on the door in the next 18 months," says Wright.
"First and foremost, it's about those players getting into our system and establishing themselves. Then I am sure they will go on and we'll have another cohort of Swansea players within the Welsh set-up.
"And I can speak for everyone at the club when I say seeing our players in the Wales squad makes us extremely proud."
-
Swansea trigger option to extend Congreve's contract
Swansea City have triggered the option to extend Cameron Congreve's contract until the summer of 2026. The Wales Under-21 international has excelled during his loan spell with Bromley this season ...Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Sheehan to take Swansea training as uncertainty goes on
Alan Sheehan says he has been asked to take training next week as uncertainty over Swansea City's managerial position continues.Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Women's manager Sherwood leaves Swansea City
Jamie Sherwood has left his position as first-team manager of Adran Premier side Swansea City with assistant Yzzy Taylor taking interim charge for their four remaining Plate Conference matches.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14 -
England U20’s Six Nations title and Grand Slam hopes over after fractious defeat by Wales
England Under-20 had their Grand Slam dreams dashed by an inspired Wales performance as tempers frayed at a raucous Cardiff Arms Park.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
2025 NWSL predictions: Can Orlando Pride repeat? Barbra Banda, Temwa Chemwinga, or Trinity Rodman for MVP?
Here's who is winning it all, taking home the top honors and moreCBS Sports - 6d -
I watched Wales get obliterated surrounded by Englishmen – it was one of worst days of my life
Saturday’s obliteration by England was about as bad as it gets for Wales. Some Welshmen might have been quietly confident before the game; apropos of nothing, I was loudly confident and genuinely ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Pride open season with 6-0 rout; Rodman returns
The reigning champion Orlando Pride opened the National Women's Soccer League season on Friday night with a 6-0 home field rout over the Chicago Stars.ESPN - 5d -
Thousands take to the streets after Hungary passes new anti-LGBTQ+ law banning Pride events
There was a demonstration in Budapest after A new anti-LGBTQ law banning Pride events and allowing authorities to use facial recognition software.NBC News - 1d -
Scotland produce performance of extremes but survive Wales fightback
Scotland 35-29 Wales Home side lead 35-8 but Wales secure late bonus points All of Scotland’s brilliance, all their familiar failings. It cannot be denied, they have once again underscored their ...The Guardian - Mar. 8
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Deebo Samuel on coming to Commanders: 'I like winners'
Why did Deebo Samuel want to play for the Washington Commanders? For several reasons, he explained.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Manchester United rival Arsenal for transfer of €90m-rated attacker
Manchester United are reportedly keen to sign Juventus attacking midfielder Kenan Yildiz, though he also has interest from Arsenal.The talented young Turkey international has impressed in Serie A ...Yahoo Sports - 23m -
Wood hits hat-trick as rampant New Zealand move to brink of World Cup
Chris Wood scored a hat-trick of headers as New Zealand moved to within one win of the World Cup with a 7-0 demolition of Fiji on Friday.In the first semi-final of Oceania qualifying, New Caledonia ...Yahoo Sports - 24m -
Lewis Hamilton wins pole position in the sprint for Ferrari at the Chinese F1 Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton has astonished the crowd and himself by securing his maiden Sprint pole position for Ferrari in the final moments of qualifying at the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix. Hamilton ...Yahoo Sports - 28m -
Pundits suggest Sean Payton has not yet added his 'Joker'
The Broncos found their Joker in Evan Engram, right? Not everyone is convinced.Yahoo Sports - 32m
More in Sports
-
Højlund: Wasn't mocking 'idol' Ronaldo with 'Siu'
Rasmus Højlund said he was not trying to mock Cristiano Ronaldo after hitting the Portuguese star's famed 'Siu' celebration after scoring the winner for Denmark against Portugal in Copenhagen on ...ESPN - 7m -
'You're my idol': Henry joins Panama celebrations
Panama's Cecilio Waterman celebrated one of the biggest goals in his country's history, to defeat the USMNT, with his idol Thierry Henry.ESPN - 7m -
Jiménez double sends Mexico past Canada
Raúl Jiménez scored in the opening minute and again in the 75th, lifting Mexico into the Concacaf Nations League final with a 2-0 victory over Canada on Thursday night.ESPN - 7m -
Merino gives Spain late draw vs. 10-man Dutch
Spain snatched a stoppage-time equaliser against 10-man Netherlands to secure a 2-2 draw on Thursday that kept up a two-year unbeaten streak and gave the holders the advantage in their UEFA Nations ...ESPN - 7m -
Vini Jr. saves Brazil with late winner vs. Colombia
A last-minute goal by Vinícius Júnior secured Brazil's 2-1 win over Colombia in World Cup qualifying on Thursday, helping his team and millions of fans avoid more disappointment.ESPN - 7m