The departure of Brendan Rodgers could have easily unsettled Swansea City following their first season in the Premier League.
He masterminded an 11th-place finish upon their return to the top flight, which was more than what most expected after a 24-year absence.
However, the arrival of Michael Laudrup not only spurred the Swans on to a greater league finish, but also heralded their first major trophy.
Sports Mole takes a look back over what has been a memorable season at Liberty Stadium.
August
Laudrup's tenure began with a 5-0 demolition of Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road, gift wrapped by two impressive strikes from new signing Michu.
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The Spaniard notched another in his next game - a 3-0 win over West Ham United - to quickly establish himself as a fan favourite in South Wales. Priced at just £2m from Rayo Vallecano, many were already rushing to declare him the signing of the season.
A League Cup campaign destined to end in glory got underway with a 3-1 win over Barnsley.
September
The Swans had gotten their season off to the best possible start with two league wins out of two, but a lean spell in September saw them take just one point from a 12 available.
A 2-2 draw at home with Sunderland was overshadowed by a horrific injury to full-back Neil Taylor, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
That result had initially stretched their unbeaten run to three, but three straight losses against Aston Villa, Everton and Stoke City passed by without the team mustering a single goal.
Their only win during the month was a 3-2 victory over Crawley Town in the League Cup.
October
The Welsh outfit found the net for the first time in three games when they drew 2-2 with Reading, before a first win in five games arrived by way of a 2-1 triumph over Wigan Athletic.
By now, Michu's tally stood at six goals, but patchy form continued to hold the Swans back throughout October. Another defeat was to come at the Etihad Stadium, when a single Carlos Tevez goal decided the game.
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The month did end on a high note with an impressive League Cup victory against Liverpool. Chico Flores, Nathan Dyer and Johnathan de Guzman - another summer arrival from Spain - fired the goals in a 3-1 win at Anfield.
November
A busy month started with successive 1-1 draws against Chelsea and Southampton.
Victories over Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion, sandwiched by a goalless draw with Liverpool, saw Swansea finish November unbeaten.
December
Arguably the team's best performance of the season came at the Emirates Stadium, when a second-half double by Michu sealed a thoroughly-deserved 2-0 win over Arsenal.
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The Swans had now strung together back-to-back wins for the first time since the start of the season.
However, successive defeats followed against Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur, which was indicative of their season so far.
An own goal by Sebastian Hines helped Swansea book their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup at the expense of Middlesbrough. The Welsh side were now just two games from a trip to Wembley.
The festive period began with draws against Manchester United and Reading, before a 2-1 win over Fulham brought up their first win in four league games.
January
The Swans began 2013 with a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on News Year's Day.
Laudrup's men looked to replicate their League Cup form the FA Cup, but home advantage did not prove to be a decisive factor as Danny Graham's late goal was needed to secure a 2-2 draw with Arsenal. The replay at the Emirates Stadium two weeks later was decided by Jack Wilshere.
Those results were separated by another contender for performance of the season. The Swans were underdogs as they headed to Stamford Bridge for the first leg of their League Cup semi-final with Chelsea, but goals from Michu and Graham gave them a two-goal lead to defend at the Liberty Stadium.
Swansea then held the Blues to a goalless draw in a game marred by Eden Hazard's controversial kicking of a ball boy. It confirmed their progression to a first major final in their 101-year history.
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The team finished January unbeaten in league action, although their only success was a 3-1 victory over Stoke City.
February
Their first defeat in seven Premier League games came at Upton Park, where Andy Carroll's goal proved to be decisive.
Michu once again proved to be the scourge of QPR as he bagged a brace in a 4-1 victory at home. That took his haul to 15 for the season.
However, a 5-0 humbling at Anfield was to follow, as Liverpool exacted revenge for their League Cup exit. Laudrup's men seemed to have one eye on the League Cup final against Bradford City - arguably the biggest game in the club's history, rivalled only by the playoff final of two seasons previous.
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When the big day arrived, Swansea delivered. The Bantams had eliminated Arsenal and Aston Villa en route to the final, but found ultimate glory a bridge too far. Although a 5-0 thrashing did nothing to diminish the achievement of the League Two side in reaching Wembley.
March
March began on a positive note with a 1-0 win over Newcastle United.
However, with the team sitting comfortably in the top half of the Premier League, their form was about to hit a sharp decline.
Three straight defeats to West Bromwich Albion, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur ensued, as the long season began to take its toll on a thin squad.
April
The rot was stopped with back-to-back draws with Norwich City and Southampton, but wins were now proving hard to come by.
They would end the month without one, as goals from Oscar and Frank Lampard saw Chelsea avenge their League Cup exit.
May
A 0-0 draw with Manchester City saw their winless run stretched to seven games.
Their misery came to an end with a 3-2 triumph against Wigan Athletic, although this came at exactly the wrong time for former manager Roberto Martinez. The Swans twice came from behind before snatching victory, which drove a steak through the heart of the Latics' fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The Swans were then beaten 2-1 at Old Trafford in what was Sir Alex Ferguson's last home match in charge of Man United, before the poor form continued with a 3-0 home loss to Fulham on the final day of the season.
Michael Penkman
