Leeds United have appointed Spaniard and former manager of Watford Javi Gracia to replace Jesse Marsch as gaffer.
Former American manager of The Peacocks, Marsch, was booted out on the sixth (6th) day of February, 2023.
Leeds United since sacking Jesse Marsch have not had it rosy in their search for his replacement as they have battled with several stumbling blocks in their pursuit for a new manager.
Javi Gracia in his previous dispensation in England
Javi Gracia took the hornets, Watford, to the final of the oldest cup competition in England, The FA Cup before managing Valencia and then traversing to Asia to coach Qatari football club Al Sadd.
The Elland Road based side sit nineteenth (19th) on the Premier League log and they welcome The Saints in their next encounter on Saturday.
The 52-year-old has been chosen as the next manager of Leeds United on a “flexible contract” and he will be at the helms of affair when they battle Southampton “subject to obtaining the necessary work permissions”.
Leeds United’s Under-21 manager, Michael Skubala, has been in charge of the side on a temporary basis since Marsch dismissal in spite of club owner, Andrea Radrizzani, promising a swift appointment after letting go of the American.
Andrea Radrizzani’s hunt for a new manager!
Andrea Radrizzani’s side tried luring Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola but their attempt at getting him was blocked while the gaffer of Dutch side Feyenoord Arne Slot ruled himself out of the job.
Former manager of Netherland giants, Ajax Amsterdam, Alfred Schreuder couldn’t be appointed because of the reaction of many Leeds’ supporters.
Carlos Corberan who has in the past worked under Marcelo Bielsa during his time at Leeds United signed a fresh contract at the hawthorns.
Gracia was relieved of his duties at Watford in September 2019 after a disastrous start to the league season.
The Hornets signed Gracia in January 2018 and he led Watford to an impressive 11th-place position at the end of the Premier League season.
He also took Watford to a first FA Cup final appearance in thirty-five (35) years in his only full season with the club.
Gracia won eighteen (18) of his fifty-six (56) matches as a coach in the English Premier League, picking up an average of 1.18 points every game.
Leeds United have won just four league matches this season, their last victory came against The Cherries Bournemouth on the fifth (5th) of November in 2022.
In their last league match which was played on Saturday, they couldn’t fire any shot on target in their abysmal 1-0 defeat served to them by fellow below par strugglers in Everton.
Jesse Marsch’s coaching career
Javi Gracia started his coaching career at Cordoba in the summer of 2005 before moving over to Cadiz in 2008.
The newly appointed manager of Leeds United has coached several teams in the past notably; Malaga, Cordoba, Cadiz, Villarreal B, Olympiacos Volou, AOK Kerkyra, Almeria, Osasuna, Rubin Kazan, Watford, Valencia.
Javi Gracia’s last coaching job was at Al Sadd in Qatar where he took over from Xavi Hernandez who moved to Barcelona.
