Rangel’s moving on, with a very heavy heart

SWANSEA City great Angel Rangel has confirmed he will leave the club in the summer after 11 years and 373 appearances.

The 35-year-old’s contract expires this summer and, ahead of the season finale against Stoke on Sunday, it has been confirmed that he will not be offered an extension.

The right-back first joined the Swans from Spanish club Terrassa for just £10,000 in 2007, having been spotted by Roberto Martinez. Rangel paid part of the fee himself.

But the unheralded defender went on to make a major impact in SA1, helping the Swans climb from League One to the heights of the Premier League, major silverware and European football.

He has made just six appearances this season, with injury problems hindering him, having found himself battling Kyle Naughton for selection over each of the last three campaigns.

Just last month Rangel had accepted his future could lie away from the Liberty, having made clear he had no intention of hanging up his boots this summer as he targeted another couple of years in the professional game.

Swansea have long planned to find roles for Rangel and fellow icon Leon Britton at the end of their playing days, but the Spaniard insists he will be back at the Liberty cheering on his old side whatever the future holds.

“My feelings are mixed,” Rangel said.

“I am very proud to have played for 11 seasons for the club who gave me the opportunity to become a professional footballer and who made my dream of playing in the Premier League come true.

“I came here as a 24-year-old when the club were in League One. Eleven years later I have played more in the Premier League than in all the other divisions.

“That gives me a lot of pride and happiness, but also there is sadness because you don’t think this day will ever come.

“The years go by so fast. The older you get, the more difficult it is to accept. But you have to be realistic and I have to be proud of what I have achieved at this club. I know this season has been difficult for me,” he added.

“I haven’t had many games, so it is difficult for the club to give me another extension, I understand that.

“But I keep myself fit, I still feel good and I want to play for as long as my body can take it.

“I will look somewhere else for one or two more seasons. When I am 37 or 38 it will be time to call it a day and hopefully I will come back and help the Swans in another way.

“Until then, I will always be looking at Swansea’s results.”