Marko Stamenic says the people around Swansea City have helped him rediscover his love for football during his first year at the Championship club. Thursday marked 12 months since the 24-year-old left Nottingham Forest to prove himself in the Championship. He achieved this despite the trauma of his father Nikola's sudden death last October, calling him the "main figure" in his development. Stamenic reflects on "a year of a lot of ups and downs," crediting the club for helping him "cross that hurdle" and find his love for the game again.

The midfielder missed daily football conversations with his father, who inspired him watching New Zealand at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Sixteen years later, Stamenic played in New Zealand's three matches at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, with family watching and his dad "watching from above."

New signing Elijah Just, Stamenic's international teammate, joined from Motherwell after Stamenic spoke to him and chief executive Tom Gorringe. Just debuted at Stoke alongside Stephen Welsh, Joseph Opoku, and Moussa Yeo. With Ross Stewart now available, Swansea's squad looks healthy after an 11th-place finish last season. Stamenic says the team aims for promotion in 2026-27 but focuses on the next game, starting with Saturday's home opener against Sheffield United.