Alan Curtis

Swansea City

He was born in Pentre, Rhondda on 16 April 1954 to Tydfil and Albert Curtis, a factory worker and coal miner respectively. His uncle, Roy Paul, was a Wales international footballer. He had an unsuccessful trial at Manchester United as a 13-year-old. He represented Rhondda Schools, where he was spotted by Swansea City and offered a trial. He chose to remain at his local Grammar school and pass his A-levels before going to Vetch Field for a trial in 1972, by which time he had already won a Wales under-18 cap. Manager Roy Bentley handed him his debut in the Football League in a 3–1 defeat to Southend United at Roots Hall in August 1972. Though he did not have an extended run in the first team he did end the 1972–73 campaign with 14 appearances to his name. The team performed poorly, and a change of manager from Bentley to Harry Gregg could not prevent City being relegated out of the Third Division. Despite being retained by Gregg, Curtis had to work as a builder's apprentice during the summer of 1973 to supplement his low income. Despite the arrival of John Charles as a coach and Herbie Way's promotion to player-coach, Gregg continued the physical style of football favoured by Bentley that did not suit Curtis well. Regardless of being ill-suited to this approach Curtis established himself as a first-team regular and made 40 appearances in the 1973–74 season. Gregg left Swansea midway through the 1974–75 campaign, and new manager Harry Griffiths insisted on…

Curtis won one cap for the Wales under-18, under-21 and under-23 teams. He went on to score six goals in 35 international matches for the Wales senior team from 1976 to 1987.

Curtis worked in most backroom staff roles at Swansea City, as well as being a part of Brian Flynn's Wales under-21 coaching set up. He was appointed Swansea's first-team coach by new manager Michael Laudrup in July 2012. Curtis continued his role as first-team coach under manager Garry Monk. On 9 December 2015, following the dismissal of Monk, he became caretaker manager on a game-by-game basis as the club searched for a new manager. However, on 7 January 2016, it was confirmed that Curtis would continue as manager until the end of the season. Despite this, on 18 January, Francesco Guidolin was brought in as head coach, with Curtis returning to a coaching role at the club. Guidolin was dismissed on 3 October 2016 and, after a short period with Bob Bradley in charge, Curtis again served as caretaker-manager before the arrival of Paul Clement in January 2017. Curtis became Swansea's first Loan Player Manager in January 2017; he monitored the progress of players out on loan. Curtis was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to Welsh football.

He married Clare in 2008 in a ceremony in Swansea. Alan Curtis has two sons and two stepsons.