In the apartment, Williams earned the nickname “the human bin bag” for his eagerness to eat everything in the fridge, no matter how expired it was.
“I would buy things like chicken breasts. Sometimes they would be neglected and pass their use-by date,” Zamora recalled.
“I’d warn him, ‘mate, you can’t eat that,’ but he would casually respond, ‘nah, it’s fine…’ He was the one who kept the fridge in check.”
One unforgettable incident happened when Williams nearly didn’t get past the front door of the apartment because “security was chasing him around the parking lot”.
“He was confronted about what he was doing in an old clunker,” Zamora said, chuckling again.
“Luke replied, ‘what do you mean – I live here?’ and they responded, ‘I don’t think so, mate.’
“I can’t recall the car he was driving at the time, but it certainly wasn’t anything impressive. However, Luke couldn’t care less about cars – he’s not materialistic. Fame and wealth don’t matter to him.”
Williams’ significant coaching opportunity arose when Gus Poyet brought him to Brighton. Afterward, he had stints at Swindon Town, Bristol City, and Swansea as Russell Martin’s assistant, before becoming the Swans’ head coach last January.
“He’s followed a non-traditional path,” said Zamora.
“It’s quite similar to my journey as a player, moving through every division, valuing where you’ve been, and understanding where you aspire to go. He’s on that path.
“So far, Luke’s advancement has been remarkable – the style of play, the chances generated, and the entertainment he brings are impressive. He fulfills many criteria.
“Now, he needs to prove himself at Swansea. I don’t believe he has the largest budget in the league, but I’m confident he will finish above the expectations set by the club’s budget. That would be a sign of success.”
