Fabrizio Romano names surprise new “serious candidate” for the Leeds job

Fabrizio Romano names a surprise new “serious candidate” for the vacant Leeds United manager’s job, following Jesse Marsch’s departure.

Leeds United are in talks it seems to appoint Javi Gracia, a former Watford manager, as their new boss with someone new on the touchline needed rapidly.

The Whites currently sit 19th in the Premier League standings and need a massive turnaround once again if they want to stay up, as they flirt with danger of being relegated back to the Championship.

Michael Skubala is taking the reins for a temporary period, but the club’s recent winless streak of 10 following defeat to Everton.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Javi Gracia is one that is seriously considered for this job with one other unnamed manager on the shortlist.

Leeds United are now in talks with Javi Gracia as potential new manager, he’s serious candidate for the job to replace Jesse Marsch ⚪️🇪🇸 #LUFC

Club will make internal decision soon on the manager situation — there are two names in the shortlist. pic.twitter.com/hVXLAnN1IR

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 20, 2023

Gracia is currently out of work after he took over as manager of Al-Sadd from Barcelona legend Xavi.

Gracia managed the Hornets where they placed 11th in the 2018/19 (16 clear of the drop) before reaching the FA Cup final where fell to defeat against Man City.

Leeds are reportedly wanting a manager who is both cost-effective and available to work immediately with a relegation battle on their hands. Gracia is deemed to be a better choice than many other candidates, the majority taking to turn them down.

He is described to be a master of what it takes to get a team playing the right football in order to be able to play the Premier League’s relegation zone.

Although Gracia may not be the first choice for the job, he is a significant improvement to the situation and should be hired according to LeedsAllOver as the news broke on Monday afternoon.

TOP SIX FAVOURITES

Sky Bet – 20th Feb – 3pm
Javi Gracia – 4/11
Rafa Benitez – 8/1
Michael Skubala – 12/1
Nuno Espirito Santo – 14/1
Steven Gerrard – 16/1
Andoni Iraola – 20/1

BetVictor – 20th Feb – 3pm

Javi Gracia – 4/6
Nuno Espirito Santo – 6/1
Rafa Benitez – 8/1
Steven Gerrard – 10/1
Michael Skubala – 10/1
Lucien Favre – 20/1

This is what fans said as Fabrizio Romano names surprise a new “serious candidate” for the Leeds manager’s job…

@RBYorkshire: Doing on the cheap then, sell up and get out of our club you absolute clown 🤡 @andrearadri and take orta and Angus with you. Wankers. #LUFC

@louorns: Javi Gracia to Leeds potentially? Yes please. That period from August 2018-February 2019.. we were so so good. Gnonto playing the Deulofeu role 🤌🏻

@AndRusso_16: Ok with that, but it should be a 6 months contract till the end of the season with the option to extend for the club if he avoids relegation #LUFC

@lufc_opinions: I’d take anyone with previous managerial experience at the moment doesn’t have to be football, be happy with Jason Gillespie or Richard Agar. so Gracia I’d be delighted with #lufc @LUFC #MOT #ALAW

@jhakner: He held down the #watfordfc job for 18 months (that’s about 10 Pozzo years), was a couple of crap results away from Europe and one (very) crap result away from winning the FA Cup. That’s all #lufc fans need to know about Javi

@nathanlufc1234: Kept Watford up and got to an Fa cup final… not the greatest name but knows the league so if it is him then gotta get behind him #lufc

@MrROSSii1990: I honestly dont know how to feel about this.. But anything is better then an interim manager.. just isnt working #LUFC

@josh1904lufc: In Javi We Trust! Hopefully in by the weekend and in the stands at bare minimum against Southampton. Take our negativity away from the board for the time being and show Javi how passionate we can be, we don’t need the fake fans who have only supported since promotion! #LUFC #MOT

@pipmcgowan: If short-termism is what #lufc is going for, he certainly fits that bill 🙄

@bcollo10: The longer this goes on, the more of a shambles we become. This bloke has managed 10 clubs since 2010 and not spent longer than two seasons at any of them. #lufc

@ChattingLeeds: May not be the name we all wanted but given the circumstances I will happily take him, just get it done Leeds #LUFC

@Toneball28: Nah come on now. Let’s be serious. Can this geezer keep us up, genuinely? Or have we all become so fucking desperate that we’ll just take anyone at this point. Let’s not forget who’s getting the managers in ffs #lufc

@LeedsRadar: Better than nothing. Fresh ideas could be what we need, just to keep us up, and then we can look at bringing in Iraola. #LUFC

@London_LUFC: Gracia works for me. Quick move by Orta the man everyone loves to dismiss. I hope it works and he gets the last word. #lufc

@ScottOWorrall: Our expectations have been crushed so badly by the board, that, like a number of Leeds fans, I wouldn’t be apposed to this. #LUFC

@lufcwozzaa: I’ll take that, after last weeks disaster we needed someone and his CV don’t look too bad. #LUFC

@WoberSZN: Don’t mind this tbf, did a fantastic job at Watford, kept them up comfortably twice and took them to a cup final. #lufc

@markydh: There we go. I’d be happy enough with this. PL pedigree and plays a system the players are used to, which with this squad profile is crucial #lufc

@elland_toad: Might just have to make do with this FFS #LUFC

@JayBlufc: Be happy with this tbf. #lufc

@maia_hammond: Imagine sacking your manager and not having anyone to take over quickly. Oh wait, that’s my club🤦‍♀️ #LUFC

@Aaron_Peecs: Im going to try and be positive , there is still 45 points to play for , anyone can beat anyone in this league and the bottom is very tight , have some faith we have the players let’s hope this coach can get something out of them #lufc

Not being in the industry I’m unable to gauge, but surely it would be an attractive proposition to manage #LeedsUnited until the end of the season with an extension clause if we avoid relegation? A good manager will therefore reap the reward & everyone’s a winner #LUFC #MOT #ALAW pic.twitter.com/Z4cVNkJCKs

— WayneWTP (@waynepoppleton) February 20, 2023