After twelve months of post Wembley despair, culminating in our drop to the bottom tier of the Football League, who would’ve expected Swindon Town to be able to unveil football legend, but managerial novice, Paolo Di Canio on 20th May 2011 as the man to guide us to promotion…

Not since Ossie Ardilles and then Glenn Hoddle were handed the reigns over 20 years ago, had Town been able to count upon the services of one of the game’s most flamboyant and technically gifted geniuses. However this is Paolo Di Canio, an entirely different beast to Ardilles or Hoddle. A notorious personality and mercurial talent, renowned for his passion, dedication and commitment on and off the pitch, sometimes taking his love for the game a bit too far.

What fantastic PR the appointment gave STFC. Media from around the globe descended on the County Ground to witness Di Canio return to football. News spread far and wide with Twitter seeing #PDC and #STFC trending worldwide.

With his chequered past, of course not all of this attention was positive. Many were disgusted at a ‘self confessed fascist’ back in the game and Swindon supporters spilt with a vocal ‘minority’ lambasting the club for the hiring, throwing away their season tickets in the process; not to mention the GMB Union cancelling their sponsorship of the club.

For those waiting in expectation for the official unveiling a few days later they weren’t disappointed at the press conference. Di Canio arrived suited and booted, all serious and ready for the challenge. He gave the watching hacks and cameras exactly the performance they wanted.

Aside from the joking, promising the signing of Lionel Messi and a rather ambitious hope AC Milan would be sending their most promising young talent to Wiltshire, Di Canio arrived to embark on a new career with a simple message; a desire to win, succeed and avenge relegation through success on the pitch and he’s doing this for nobody except the supporters.

Now over six months into his tenure its a case of so far, so good, but we remain at an early stage and it’s ultimately too soon to judge whether project Paolo has been a success. However we’ve learnt one key thing: Di Canio keeps to his word.

Listening to that interview again puts everything that has happened under Di Canio – reactions to Leon Clarke, the rant post Bristol Rovers and the rest – in sharp focus.

Paolo has not wavered from his original statement one inch. He stated from the outset that the ‘great responsibility’ given to him will be used to build a team, do his utmost to ensure his players achieve their full ability and will only play exciting football. For that Di Canio expects discipline, a team that works together as a unit, an abundance of passion with no space for individuals and selfish players.

He must be credited for sticking to his key principles, when other managers have stood idle and watched on in the face of ‘player power’ and passionless performances. Any successful team needs a strong leader and the best place for that direction and control is in the dugout where Di Canio stands; animated, frustrated, angry, delighted in celebration, bursting with desire and passion for the whole ninety minutes and beyond.

With Di Canio at the helm the future at Swindon Town is certainly looking bright…

View the other key moments of 2011