Angel Rangel has told Swansea City they made a major error in moving Alan Curtis away from a coaching role at the club.
Club legend Curtis has been reinstated as a coach with the first team by new manager Graham Potter, who has also brought in Bjorn Hamburg as an assistant from former club Ostersund in Sweden.
The move to recall Curtis to a coaching role – following his side-lining under former boss Paul Clement – was supported by fellow club legend Rangel.
The Spanish defender – who is still looking for a new club after being released at the end of last season by the Swans – tweeted: “He should never have left” after Curtis’s appointment was confirmed.
In one of Clement’s first moves at the club when he was appointed manager in January 2017, Curtis was removed from the coaching team.
The 64-year-old was later given a role as head of loan players, liasing and monitoring the form of those players the club had out on loan. It was a title the club had never previously required, although it was maintained by former manager Carlos Carvalhal.
Now, Curtis will serve again on the coaching staff, extending his career with the club past a 40th year, during which time he has served as player, coach, head scout and numerous stints as caretaker manager.
He will form part of a backroom team which includes Billy Reid, Kyle Macaulay and Bjorn Hamberg, who have all followed Potter to the club from Swedish side Ostersund.
Potter said: “I have known Alan through mutual friends for a number of years, so I know how respected and important he is at this football club.”Nobody knows the football club better than him. He brings an experience and quality that will prove really valuable to us.
“He will support the environment here. He is someone for all of us to draw on his experience, mentorship and support. Alan is an important person to have around and I’m excited to be working with him.”
Rangel was signed by Roberto Martinez from Spanish third-tier club Terrassa in 2007 for £10,000.
The full-back went on to play a significant part in three promotions and was a member of the side that moved into the Premier League in 2011 before winning the League Cup two years later
He skippered the side on several occasions – including a 3-0 Europa League win over Valencia in the Mestalla – before becoming club captain this season.
Rangel has opted not to retire and decided to move on after making only six appearances in 2017-18.
“It is difficult for the club to give me another extension, I understand that,” said Rangel.
“But I keep myself fit, I still feel good and I want to play for as long as my body can take it.
“I will look somewhere else for one or two more seasons. When I am 37 or 38 it will be time to call it a day and hopefully I will come back and help the Swans in another way.”
