Post by Webster on Feb 8, 2023 18:40:41 GMT
The Guardian: Leeds manager hunt shifts to Madrid as Radrizzani calls for patience
A delegation from Leeds has travelled to Madrid to court the Rayo Vallecano head coach, Andoni Iraola, but the Premier League club’s hopes of introducing a new manager to the Elland Road crowd when Manchester United visit West Yorkshire on Sunday remain in the balance.
Relegation-threatened Leeds have acted swiftly to recruit a successor following Jesse Marsch’s sacking on Monday but a key name on their initial four man shortlist dropped out on Tuesday night when the West Bromwich Albion head coach, Carlos Corberán, signed a new contract. At that point Leeds were already exploring the possibility of attracting the 40-year-old Iraola from Rayo Vallecano and Victor Orta, the English club’s director of football, duly led a team heading to the Spanish capital for talks.
Rayo Vallecano, though, would demand hefty compensation for a highly regarded manager who has lifted them to fifth in La Liga and whose tactical philosophy is centred on the pressing game Marcelo Bielsa introduced at Elland Road.
Other options include the Celtic manager, Ange Postecoglou, and Bodø/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen. Although Feyenoord’s Arne Slot has been heavily linked with the vacancy, it is understood he did not feature on Leeds’s original shortlist. It is thought Leeds are primarily looking at managers currently in work but it is not inconceivable that, should they meet closed doors in Madrid, the directors could turn to the immediately available Rafael Benítez or Ralph Hasenhüttl. While Orta is an admirer of Mauricio Pochettino, it is thought unlikely that the former Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham manager would relish a relegation skirmish.
Before Wednesday’s game against Manchester United the Leeds owner, Andrea Radrizzani, asked fans to be patient as the new manager hunt unfolded. A day earlier the Italian had tweeted: “We are on it. Hopefully white smoke by tonight or [tomorrow] morning.” Yet by Wednesday morning Radrizzani was more circumspect, posting: “Not yet…….need more time.” Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest left Leeds in 17th, above the bottom three on goal difference, and Marsch was sacked after 11 months in the job having won only four of 20 league games this season.
Relegation-threatened Leeds have acted swiftly to recruit a successor following Jesse Marsch’s sacking on Monday but a key name on their initial four man shortlist dropped out on Tuesday night when the West Bromwich Albion head coach, Carlos Corberán, signed a new contract. At that point Leeds were already exploring the possibility of attracting the 40-year-old Iraola from Rayo Vallecano and Victor Orta, the English club’s director of football, duly led a team heading to the Spanish capital for talks.
Rayo Vallecano, though, would demand hefty compensation for a highly regarded manager who has lifted them to fifth in La Liga and whose tactical philosophy is centred on the pressing game Marcelo Bielsa introduced at Elland Road.
Other options include the Celtic manager, Ange Postecoglou, and Bodø/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen. Although Feyenoord’s Arne Slot has been heavily linked with the vacancy, it is understood he did not feature on Leeds’s original shortlist. It is thought Leeds are primarily looking at managers currently in work but it is not inconceivable that, should they meet closed doors in Madrid, the directors could turn to the immediately available Rafael Benítez or Ralph Hasenhüttl. While Orta is an admirer of Mauricio Pochettino, it is thought unlikely that the former Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham manager would relish a relegation skirmish.
Before Wednesday’s game against Manchester United the Leeds owner, Andrea Radrizzani, asked fans to be patient as the new manager hunt unfolded. A day earlier the Italian had tweeted: “We are on it. Hopefully white smoke by tonight or [tomorrow] morning.” Yet by Wednesday morning Radrizzani was more circumspect, posting: “Not yet…….need more time.” Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest left Leeds in 17th, above the bottom three on goal difference, and Marsch was sacked after 11 months in the job having won only four of 20 league games this season.