The 2013-14 campaign for Swansea City was an intense and transitional season, marked by their first venture into European football in 22 years and a dramatic Premier League survival battle. The Swans finished a respectable 12th in the top flight, successfully preserving their status despite a mid-season managerial change that saw club captain Garry Monk take the reins from Michael Laudrup. Spearheading the attack was the club's new record signing, Wilfried Bony, whose 25 goals across all competitions, including 16 in the league, proved vital to the club's safety. The season is best remembered for a spectacular run in the UEFA Europa League, which featured an iconic 3-0 demolition of European giants Valencia at the Mestalla, and an intense, historic pair of matches in the first-ever Premier League South Wales derby. It was a year defined by fluctuations but secured a hard-fought battle to remain in the Premier League elite.