Meet the opposition | Rotherham United

As Swansea City prepare to host Rotherham United, we take a closer look at the Millers.

What's their story?

Rotherham United were established in 1925 after the merger of disbanded teams Rotherham County and Rotherham Town. 

Their highest league finish came in the 1954-55 season, when they finished third in Division Two, narrowly missing out on promotion on goal difference.

The Millers were promoted to the Championship in 2018, 2020 and 2022, but were relegated in 2019 and 2021 before Matt Taylor kept them in the second tier last term. 

However, they will return to League One next season with their relegation already confirmed ahead of the final handful of games.

How's their form?

The Millers have endured a tough campaign, winning just four of their 42 league games so far this season.

The most recent of those wins came on April 1 against Millwall, and ended a wait for victory that had stretched all the way back to a Boxing Day win over Middlesbrough.

Rotherham's away record has been miserable, and they have not won on their travels in any competition since November 2022.

Who’s the gaffer?

Leam Richardson was appointed as Millers boss in December 2023, replacing Matt Taylor as head coach.   

A Blackburn academy graduate, Richardson played for Bolton Wanderers, Notts County, Blackpool and Accrington Stanley over a 16-year playing career.

While at Stanley, Richardson was appointed caretaker manager after John Coleman departed to join Rochdale. Richardson was then given the job on a permanent basis eight months later, when Paul Cook left for Chesterfield. 

In 2013, he followed Cook to become assistant manager at Chesterfield, with both then moving to Portsmouth in 2015; gaining promotion to League One in 2017. 

Richardson's next head coach role came in 2020, he initially took charge of the Latics on a caretaker basis before taking full-time charge.

He went on to won the 2021-22 EFL Manager of the Season award after leading Wigan to promotion, finishing the season as champions of League One.

Richardson was sacked by Wigan in November 2022, but returned to the game with the south Yorkshire club.

Who's the captain?

Sean Morrison was named club captain at the start of the 2023-24 season, replacing Richard Wood who had left the club at the expiration of his contract. 

Morrison started his career at Swindon Town, winning the club’s Young Player of the Year award in his first full season, The central defender had a loan spell at Southend United before Reading activated Morrison’s release clause in 2011.

Morrison only made 38 league appearances for the Royals, having two loan spells at Huddersfield Town, before moving to south Wales with Cardiff City in 2014. 

The defender joined the Bluebirds for a fee of around £3 million, and he was named club captain the following season. 

Morrison made over 270 league appearances in south Wales, scoring 33 goals, he skippered the Cardiff side that won promotion to the Premier League during the 2017-18 season.

He was also part of the 2020-21 Championship team of the season when the Bluebirds reached the play-offs.

Morrison left the Bluebirds in January 2023, joining the Millers on a short-term deal which was then extended last summer. 

Who are the key men?

Hakeem Odofin has a WhoScored.com rating of 6.80 which is the highest amongst the Rotherham squad.

He is the club’s joint-top goalscorer with four goals this season, and has played over 2,500 minutes this term for the Millers. 

The 6ft 3in defender can be dangerous in the box with his height, making him a good fit for the Millers approach.

The defender started his career at Barnet, going on to have spells with Wolves, Eastleigh, Northampton, Livingston and Hamilton, before joining the Millers in 2021. 

Goalkeeper Viktor Johansson has been an integral figure for the Millers since joining the club in 2020. 

Having played in the Hammarby and Aston Villa academies, he also had a spell at Leicester City before joining the Millers in 2020.

The Swede picked up 27 clean sheets during their promotion campaign in the 2021-22 campaign, also being part of the side that won the EFL Trophy during the same season.

Johansson represented Sweden at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels. He received his first call-up to the senior team during March 2023 for the Uefa Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Belgium and Azerbaijan, making his debut in the following October in a 3-1 friendly win against Moldova. 

Forward Tom Eaves is - along with Odoffin - the other Rotherham player with four goals this season.

Having spells in the Crewe Alexandra and Oldham Athletic academies, Eaves has played for numerous clubs throughout the EFL including Bolton Wanderers, Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury Town, Rotherham United, Yeovil Town, Bury, Gillingham and Hull City before re-joining the Millers in 2022. 

Swans fans will have not so fond memories of him scoring a last-gasp equaliser for Hull in a 4-4 draw with the Tigers during the 2019-20 season.