Danny Swanson

Danny Swanson
Swanson playing for Dundee United in 2011
Personal information
Full name Daniel Joseph Swanson [1]
Date of birth (1986-12-28) 28 December 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Leith, Scotland
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[2]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
Cowdenbeath
Hutchison Vale
Leith Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Berwick Rangers 27 (12)
2008–2012 Dundee United 108 (14)
2012–2014 Peterborough United 62 (9)
2014–2015 Coventry City 15 (2)
2015 → St Johnstone (loan) 11 (2)
2015–2016 Heart of Midlothian 8 (0)
2016–2017 St Johnstone 44 (11)
2017–2018 Hibernian 31 (3)
2018–2020 St Johnstone 30 (2)
2020–2022 East Fife 25 (0)
2024– Cowdenbeath 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 December 2024

Daniel Joseph Swanson (born 28 December 1986) is a Scottish footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Lowland League club Cowdenbeath

Swanson started his career at Scottish Third Division side Berwick Rangers before moving to Scottish Premier League club Dundee United in 2008. He moved to England in 2012 to play for Peterborough United. After two years with Peterborough he signed for Coventry City, but he then moved back to Scotland on loan at St Johnstone. Swanson was released by Coventry in September 2015 and then signed for Heart of Midlothian, where he spent five months before returning to St Johnstone. Swanson then played on Hibernian for a brief period before returning to St Johnstone once again in 2018. In 2020 he joined East Fife on a two-year deal and left in summer of 2022.

Career

Early career

Born with a heart defect, Swanson underwent a number of operations as a youngster, including a heart bypass at the age of thirteen.[3] After overcoming his health problems, Swanson played for Hutchison Vale and Leith Athletic before joining Berwick Rangers, making his debut at the start of the 2005–06 season. Playing the majority of Scottish Third Division matches that season, a knee injury restricted him to just three league appearances the following season when Berwick were promoted to the Scottish Second Division, although he started the 2007–08 season injury-free.

Dundee United

Swanson completed a move to the Scottish Premier League with Dundee United on 1 January 2008 after agreeing terms in October 2007, having previously turned down a move to Hamilton Academical.[4] Making his debut the following day as a substitute in the 4–1 win over Hearts, Swanson scored his first goal for United in a 2–0 victory over Motherwell in March 2008, going on to feature in a number of matches that season. In 2008–09, Swanson was used mainly as a substitute, starting in only seven of his 30 league appearances. In the 2009–10 season, Swanson started United's opening three league matches, assisting three of the club's four goals in the process.

His good performances for United meant that Swanson was selected for the Scotland squad in October 2011.[5] Soon afterwards, however, Swanson strained a medial ligament.[5] At the end of the 2011–12 season, Swanson's contract expired and he opened talks with Championship side Peterborough United over a possible move to England.[6]

Peterborough United

On 6 June 2012, Swanson signed a two-year contract with English Championship club Peterborough United after making over 100 appearances for Dundee United.[7]

The midfielder made a total of 79 appearances scoring 5 goals before rejecting a new contract offer with Posh at the end of the 2013-2014 season.

Swanson won the EFL Trophy with Peterborough United at Wembley Stadium in 2014.

Coventry City

On 3 July 2014, Swanson signed a two-year contract with Coventry City after rejecting a new contract at Peterborough United.[8]

Swanson signed on loan for St Johnstone for the latter part of the 2014–15 season on 3 February 2015.[9] He returned to Coventry City for close season 2015, but had his contract terminated on 1 September 2015 by mutual consent.[10]

Heart of Midlothian

Swanson signed for Heart of Midlothian on 9 September 2015, agreeing a contract to the end of the 2015–16 season.[11]

St Johnstone (second spell)

After just five months with Hearts, Swanson signed for his former side St Johnstone in February 2016 on an 18-month deal.[12]

In April 2017, Swanson brought St Johnstone in to disrepute after becoming involved in an on-pitch brawl with teammate Ricky Foster. Both players were suspended by the club[13] and were subsequently fined four weeks' wages.[14]

Hibernian

On 25 April 2017, Hibernian announced that they had signed Swanson on a pre-contract agreement.[15] Injuries restricted his appearances for Hibs in the first part of the 2017/18 season.[16] Swanson was linked with a return to St Johnstone in January 2018,[16] but he decided against this.[17] His contract with Hibs was cancelled on 31 August 2018.[18]

St Johnstone (third spell)

After his release from Hibernian, Swanson resigned for St Johnstone in September 2018, stating that he was "at his happiest" whilst playing for the Perth club.[19] He was released by the club in May 2020.[20]

East Fife

On 30 July 2020, Danny Swanson signed for East Fife, on a two-year deal.[21]

Cowdenbeath

After 2.5 years without competitive football, on 6 September 2024 Swanson signed with Cowdenbeath in the fifth-tier Lowland Football League.[22]

Career statistics

As of 11 October 2021[23][2]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Berwick Rangers 2005–06 Scottish Third Division 27 1 1 0 2 0 4 0 34 1
2006–07 Scottish Third Division 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2007–08[24] Scottish Second Division 13 3 0 0 2 0 2 1 17 4
Total 43 4 1 0 4 0 6 1 54 5
Dundee United 2007–08 Scottish Premier League 12 2 2 0 0 0 — 14 2
2008–09 Scottish Premier League 30 0 2 0 2 0 — 34 0
2009–10 Scottish Premier League 31 5 6 0 2 0 — 39 5
2010–11 Scottish Premier League 21 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 24 2
2011–12 Scottish Premier League 14 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 16 3
Total 108 12 12 0 5 0 2 0 127 12
Peterborough United 2012–13 Championship 27 2 1 0 2 0 — 30 2
2013–14 League One 35 2 3 0 3 1 8 0 49 3
Total 62 4 4 0 5 1 8 0 79 5
Coventry City 2014–15 League One 15 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 18 0
St Johnstone (loan) 2014–15 Scottish Premiership 11 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 2
Heart of Midlothian 2015–16 Scottish Premiership 8 0 0 0 1 0 — 9 0
St Johnstone 2015–16 Scottish Premiership 14 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 1
2016–17 Scottish Premiership 30 10 1 0 6 5 — 37 15
Total 44 11 1 0 6 5 0 0 51 16
Hibernian 2017–18 Scottish Premiership 17 0 0 0 4 1 — 21 1
2018–19[note 1] Scottish Premiership 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 0
Total 19 0 0 0 4 1 2 0 25 1
St Johnstone 2018–19 Scottish Premiership 23 0 1 0 1 0 — 25 0
2019–20 Scottish Premiership 7 0 0 0 4 0 — 11 0
Total 30 0 1 0 5 0 0 0 36 0
East Fife 2020–21 Scottish League One 15 0 2 0 1 0 — 18 0
Career total 355 33 22 0 32 7 20 1 429 41
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including substitutes) in the 2006 Scottish Second Division play-offs, Scottish Challenge Cup, UEFA Europa League, Football League Trophy & 2014 Football League play-offs.

Honours

Club

Dundee United
Peterborough United

Notes

  1. ^ Soccerbase did not record an appearance made by Swanson against NSI Runavik on 19 July 2018.

References

  1. ^ "Professional retain lists & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b Danny Swanson at Soccerway
  3. ^ Vallely, Joanna (4 April 2008). "Danny Swanson: The football 'genius' missed by Edinburgh clubs". The Scotsman. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  4. ^ "Levein excited by Swanson switch". BBC Sport website. 10 October 2007.
  5. ^ a b "Dundee Utd midfielder Danny Swanson suffers knee injury". BBC Sport. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  6. ^ "Swanson could be the man for Posh". Peterborough Evening Telegraph. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Swanson 'sold' on Posh move". Sky Sports. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Coventry City complete signing of midfielder Danny Swanson". Coventry City F.C. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  9. ^ "St Johnstone sign Swanson on loan as McDonald departs". BBC Sport. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  10. ^ "Danny Swanson leaves Coventry City by mutual consent ahead of St Johnstone switch". Coventry Telegraph. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  11. ^ "Midfielder Danny Swanson joins Hearts until end of season". BBC Sport. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  12. ^ "Saints secure Danny Swanson return". St. Johnstone. 2 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  13. ^ "St Johnstone: Red card pair Swanson & Foster set for 'severe' punishments". BBC Sport. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  14. ^ "St Johnstone: Richard Foster & Danny Swanson fined for on-field bust-up". BBC Sport. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  15. ^ "HIBERNIAN SIGN DANNY SWANSON ON PRE-CONTRACT". Hibernianfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  16. ^ a b "Danny Swanson: St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright open to player's return". BBC Sport. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  17. ^ "St Johnstone: Wright aims to add players but not Swanson". BBC Sport. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  18. ^ "DANNY SWANSON DEPARTS HIBERNIAN". Hibernian FC. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Danny Swanson: St Johnstone sign midfielder for third time after Hibs exit". BBC Sport. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  20. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  21. ^ "Danny Swanson Agrees Terms to Join East Fife". Eastfifefc.info.
  22. ^ "Signing News". Cowdenbeath. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  23. ^ Danny Swanson at Soccerbase
  24. ^ Includes one league appearance not recorded on Soccerbase. "Ayr United 4–0 Berwick Rangers". BBC Sport. 25 August 2007. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  25. ^ McGuigan, Thomas (15 May 2010). "Dundee United 3–0 Ross County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  26. ^ "30 March 2014 – Wembley Stadium". Wembleystadium.com.