Alan Sheehan

Alan Michael Anthony Sheehan (born 14 September 1986, Athlone, Ireland) is the current head coach of Swansea City. 

A former professional defender whose playing career spanned nearly two decades in the English Football League, Sheehan has moved into coaching with a reputation for tactical insight and a deep commitment to building squad culture.

He had two spells as Swansea City’s caretaker head coach, before being handed the job permanently in April 2025 on a three-year deal.

Playing days

Sheehan began his journey in football with Belvedere, a youth club in Ireland, before moving to England as a teenager and joining Leicester City’s academy in 2003. 

He made his senior debut there, and during his early career experienced a string of loan moves - to Mansfield Town, Leeds United, Crewe Alexandra, Oldham Athletic and Swindon Town - gaining valuable experience in different divisions. 

He later enjoyed more settled spells, notably with Notts County and Luton Town. 

At Luton, Sheehan was part of promotion-winning squads, and he also served as captain. 

Those years saw him become a respected figure in the lower leagues, admired for his consistency, leadership, set-piece delivery, and his reading of games from full-back. 

He also represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-21 level, earning five caps in that age category. 

But international senior recognition for Ireland eluded him before Sheehan formally retired from playing in January 2022. 

Rise through the coaching ranks

Almost immediately after stepping away as a player, Sheehan moved into coaching. 

He served as a player-coach at Oldham Athletic, which gave him early exposure to managing senior players while still involved on the playing side. 

Following that, he held coaching roles at Luton Town and Southampton, refining his understanding of player development, structure, and coaching demands at higher levels. 

He joined Swansea City’s backroom staff in June 2023 as assistant head coach under Michael Duff. 

Sheehan first stepped in as caretaker manager in December 2023 following Duff’s departure. 

He oversaw a challenging period, but gained credibility through results, taking a 11 points from a possible 21 and steadying what had threatened to become a sinking ship.

After a further caretaker spell beginning in February 2025 – following the sacking of Luke Williams - he impressed enough to be appointed permanent head coach on 30 April 2025.

Style, philosophy and leadership

Sheehan is viewed by observers as a manager who combines pragmatism with ambition. 

He values defensive organisation, pressing without the ball, and control - both in possession and structurally. 

His experience as a player under varying managers across the lower leagues has helped him develop a balanced perspective that puts emphasis on mentality, hard work, and growth, rather than wholesale flair. 

In that regard, he has attempted to add some discipline and defensive solidity to Swansea’s reputation for possession-based attacking football.

Sheehan has spoken of the need to build momentum, character, and confidence within the group. 

In his first months as permanent manager with the Swans, those themes were evident in his squad’s improved performances and resilience. 

Under his leadership, Swansea collected 23 points from 12 games after taking over temporarily in mid-February. 

They went on to finish the 2024-25 season in 11th place, having been 17th when Sheehan took charge.

Achievements and early impact

Having steadied the ship, Sheehan was backed in the transfer market for the summer transfer window of 2025.

He re-shaped the squad with 12 players joining and a major clear-out in the form of departures.

After the opening month of the 2025-26 season, Swansea sat seventh in the Championship table with expectations among supporters on an upward curve.

Statistically, during that run, Sheehan not only won matches but led the team to keep clean sheets, limiting goals conceded - evidence that defensive solidity underpins his tactical approach.