Coventry City may always have Cardiff transfer envy – he was one that got away | OneFootball

Coventry City will rue losing Aron Gunnarsson to Cardiff City, leaving the Sky Blues wondering what might have been

Coventry City let Aron Gunnarsson depart the club for Cardiff City and spent years watching him become a star for the Bluebirds.

When Aron Gunnarsson walked away from Coventry City in the summer of 2011, it felt like a blow for the Sky Blues but not necessarily a disaster as the Icelandic midfielder had shown promise during his three years at the Ricoh Arena, yet few could have predicted just how important he would become when making the move to Cardiff City.

Prior to departing the West Midlands outfit, Coventry offered him a new contract in the hope of building their midfield around his reliability and hard-working nature, but for Gunnarsson, he had other plans and chose a different path for his future, resulting in him making the move on a free transfer to the Bluebirds.

At the time, many supporters assumed the club would simply move on, replace him, and rebuild. But the void left by his absence was clear to see and, in years to come, Coventry were left frustrated by letting the midfielder go so easily.

Losing a player with Gunnarsson’s engine and leadership proved to be a massive loss for the Sky Blues, whereas in Cardiff's case, it has proved to be one of, if not the most value-for-money signings in their recent history.

Aron Gunnarsson's free exit came at the worst possible time for Coventry City

Coventry City were already on shaky ground when Gunnarsson left in 2011 as the club was operating under financial strain and desperately trying to keep hold of their best assets, with Gunnarsson being one of the key names amongst that list, as reflected by offering the Icelandic international a contract extension.

In such a key area of the pitch, losing Gunnarsson was the last thing Coventry needed.

The midfielder had been Coventry's main up-and-coming talent, known for his tenacious attitude in the heart of the pitch, and was maturing with every season. At just 22-years-old at the time, he looked like the kind of player Coventry could have built around in the Championship as they attempted to do. However, the club couldn't stop him from walking out the door without gaining a fee for him.

What is most disappointing about the transfer saga for Coventry is that they were unable to find a suitable replacement who could mimic and match his qualities.

Within a year, Coventry faced a downward spiral which took them down into League One, and the decline continued. But for Gunnarsson’s career, it was just taking off in a Cardiff City shirt and was heading in the opposite direction.

Cardiff City received the prime years of Aron Gunnarsson that slipped through Coventry City's fingers

At Cardiff, Gunnarsson became central to all the positives that the club achieved in the early 2010s. Upon his arrival, he slotted straight into the heart of the midfield and quickly established himself not only as the physical and dominant presence that he showed he was at Coventry, but also a leader.

Across nearly 300 appearances [286], Gunnarsson helped drive the Bluebirds to two promotions, including their rise to the Premier League in 2013 and again in 2017/18 season. Not to mention that he was no stranger to an attacking return either, as he scored 25 goals and provided 22 assists during his eight years with the club.

He became a fan favourite, a captain, and one of the most reliable midfielders Cardiff had seen in modern times. If he had stayed at Coventry, it's difficult to say whether he would've reached those heights due to the club's situation at the time.

While Coventry were battling financial turmoil, stadium issues, and a decline into the lower leagues, Gunnarsson was thriving by lifting trophies and going onto bigger and better things whilst solidifying his reputation as a top professional. The Icelandic midfielder helped Cardiff to two promotions during his glittering stay in the Welsh capital.

For Cardiff, it was one of the best free transfers the club had ever made. But for Coventry, it was a painful reminder of what they’d lost.

Whilst Gunnarsson's decision to leave Coventry was a risk because he was already held in high regard, it was a risk that absolutely paid off. Coventry lost a big presence in the Icelandic midfielder, and a player just about to enter the prime of his career. And to make matters worse, they received no financial return, at a time when money was their biggest rival.

As Coventry struggled to rebuild, fans couldn’t help but watch Gunnarsson’s success in South Wales and wonder what might have been if he had signed the contract offered to him. He could have continued to be the heartbeat of their midfield but instead, chose to be exactly that for the Bluebirds.