Lincoln name highly-rated ex-Leeds caretaker as their new Head Coach

Lincoln City name ex-Leeds United caretaker Michael Skubala as their new Head Coach, coming in following the departure of Mark Kennedy.

The Imps have appointed the Whites’ Under-21 boss Michael Skubala as their head coach. He took charge of Leeds for three Premier League games last season.

Skubala had been in charge of the Leeds’ first team for three games last season, after Jesse Marsch was got rid of, but this is his first managerial role in senior football, and this week’s news has gone down very well.

The 41 year old previously worked in a number of coaching jobs over a 20 year period, but now comes in with his new side sitting 9th in League One, four points adrift of the playoff places.

Skubala’s first game in charge will be away to Stevenage on Saturday afternoon.

🤝 City have appointed the highly-rated Michael Skubala as head coach following a rigorous recruitment process.

👊 Welcome to the Imps, @mskubala!#WeAreImps

— Lincoln City FC 🇺🇦 (@LincolnCity_FC) November 13, 2023

CLUB STATEMENT:

City have appointed the highly-rated Michael Skubala as head coach following a rigorous recruitment process.

Skubala has more than 20 years of elite coaching experience, with a number of roles with the Football Association culminating in being part of the England U18 team. He had previously led the England futsal strategy and acted as manager for the national teams – having overseen more than 200 games as an international head coach.

He has worked with some of the most talented young players in the country such as Rico Lewis of Manchester City while he was in the England structure, as well as Archie Gray at Leeds United U21s and Max Kilman of Wolves.

He has been part of the coaching team at Leeds United since the start of the 2022/23 season, and took charge of three games – including a 2-2 draw at Manchester United – as interim head coach.

He said: “It feels great to be here, it has been a really warm welcome and I’m looking forward to getting going.

“I’ve been here for a couple of games in the past few weeks and I’ve seen how important the fans are for the young players and how they can push the team.

“I’m really excited to work hard with the players every day, to meet the fans and be part of Lincoln City. I feel something here that I felt when I moved to Leeds, which is how important the supporters can be to the club.”

City chairman Clive Nates said: “We have been tracking Michael for some time as he is one of the most exciting young coaches in the game right now, and had a robust recruitment process to ensure he was the right person for us at this time. We had a global list of 15 coaches we thought would be a good fit, and Michael impressed as we went through the interviews. The warm wishes from Leeds United show how respected and popular he was there.

“We see this as a progressive appointment – Michael shares our ethos on player development, style of play and ambition. He has a clear vision for how he implements this and a track record of developing talented young players.

“We’re also really pleased that Tom Shaw will stay as a key part of the structure as assistant head coach. He is a highly capable coach, and both we and Michael believe he will bring strong continuity and support to the new head coach.”

The club will also look to make a further addition to the coaching team, with this appointment to be made in due course.

STATEMENT FROM LINCOLN CHAIRMAN:

City chairman Clive Nates has provided the following update to supporters.

Firstly, on behalf of the board I’d like to express our thanks for your patience and ongoing support for the team during this time of change. For some it may have seemed a slow process, but we were determined to ensure we took the necessary time to conduct a rigorous approach designed to identify, evaluate and secure a head coach with the right skills and personal attributes.

In Michael Skubala we believe we have achieved just that and see him as a progressive appointment who shares the club’s ethos on player development, style of play and ambition. We are confident Michael will develop our talented squad and evolve our identity in the direction set by the club while delivering winning football. Together our ambition is to challenge at the top of League One.

I would also like to recognise the contribution of Tom Shaw. We knew Tom was a talented coach who had the respect and full support of the players and we have been extremely impressed how he has handled the challenge of interim head coach. He is destined to progress in his coaching career, so we are therefore delighted that he will be taking up the role of assistant head coach.

We sit ninth in League One with a talented group of players alongside a new, exciting head coach, who along with his team, are committed to enjoying a successful season. The staff and board of the football club will give them every support in creating the environment to help them deliver. I know you, our fans, will play your part too in giving Michael a warm welcome while getting behind the team and driving them on as you have always done.

Up the Imps!

Clive

Twitter users gave their reaction as Lincoln name highly-rated ex-Leeds caretaker Michael Skubala as their new Head Coach…

@LeedsXtra_: Did a good job for our under 23s, he is a good coach.

@LufcZovic: Right signing that lads

@shez_dictates: Good luck Skubes, done a great job at Leeds and think the messages from fans show how much we think of you. Absolutely certain that you’ll do a great job at Lincoln and I will be rooting for you and the Imps moving forward 👍

@VitalLeeds: Top bloke, unfortunately, didn’t work out when he was placed in temporary charge. Step too much for a futsal coach. Got the youth players playing a decent level of football though, so could be a good appointment for lower league. Good luck Skubs, will keep an eye out for results

@Gillett90: Good luck Scoobs! A shame for our under23s but a great move for him to progress his career. Look after him lads.

@Rcoops6: All the very best with the role @mskubala and I’m sure you will be a great success 👍

@SammyImp: Welcome to Lincoln 👍

@redIMPoster: Welcome to Lincoln gaffer – enjoy the ride! 🔴⚪️🔴⚪️

@UnitedWhite: Good luck Skoobs and thanks for your efforts.

@rogercart57: Good luck & best wishes Lincoln got themselves a top man MOT.

@clarey_marc: Good luck. Done wonders for our u23s. Worked closely with the 1st team. Plays good attacking football. Hope it works out well.

@brumantcornell: Brilliant appointment 👏 Top six for us Imps. #ImpsAsOne

@gardsmeister: you’ve got yourselves a gem!! best of luck michael & thanks for everything you’ve done for #lufc

@jmhardcastle: Good luck @mskubala – Imps – you got a good ‘un

@eddyacki: Great appointment @LincolnCity_FC and congratulations @mskubala… go smash it. MOT 🤍💛💙

@McGheeT92: Thanks for everything Skubs! Came across well during that interim period last season.