Sam Allardyce gives his first interview after becoming Leeds’ third manager of the season

A shocked Sam Allardyce gives his first interview after being appointed after becoming Leeds’ third manager of the 2022/23 season.

Javi Gracia has been sacked, and Allardyce is quickly brought in, taking training ready for the final four games of the campaign.

Since leaving West Brom, in 2021, the 68-year old has not been involved in management, but having been dubbed a survival expert, and with Leeds in dire straits, they clearly think he’s the man for the job.

The Whites sit just above the Premier League drop zone on goal difference and will face Man City next, then Newcastle, West Ham, and Tottenham.

Leeds are winless in five consecutive matches while also conceding 18 times.

📰 #LUFC can confirm Javi Gracia will leave the club, with our remaining four games overseen by experienced head coach Sam Allardyce. We thank Javi and his team for their efforts under difficult circumstances.

— Leeds United (@LUFC) May 3, 2023

CLUB STATEMENT:

Leeds United can confirm Javi Gracia will leave the club after 12 games in charge.

Zigor Aranalde, Mikel Antia and Juan Solla, who joined alongside Gracia, will also leave the club.

We thank Javi and his team for their efforts under difficult circumstances.

The remaining four games of the season will be overseen by experienced head coach Sam Allardyce.

Allardyce has managed over 500 Premier League games in a managerial career stretching 29 years and he brings a wealth of knowledge in fighting for survival, having guided a number of his previous clubs to safety.

His first experience of the top-flight came with Bolton Wanderers, who he would guide into Europe for the first time in the club’s history.

Following this, he went on to manage Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United, earning promotion to the Premier League in his first season with the Hammers.

Over the past decade he has successfully helped Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Everton avoid relegation from the Premier League during short-term stints.

Allardyce will be assisted by former MK Dons, Charlton Athletic and Oxford United manager Karl Robinson.

His first game in charge of the Whites will be Saturday’s Premier League away trip at Manchester City.

“I was shocked when I got the call!” 😱

“It took me two seconds say yes!” 🤩

Sam Allardyce speaks exclusively to talkSPORT as he hopes to save #LUFC from relegation. pic.twitter.com/J7gJrXV6l6

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) May 3, 2023

Sam Allardyce has spoken exclusively to talkSPORT ahead of his appointment at Elland Road.

He told Jim White: “I’m here overlooking the training ground and the fabulous facilities and I’m excited to be involved.

“A tingle runs through your veins when you take over at a football club.

“I know it’s in a lot of trouble, but I’ve seen a lot of trouble before.

“I could’ve done with more time, but we’ve got four games and hopefully I can keep this fabulous club in the Premier League.”

Sam Allardyce was shocked to be called by Leeds.

The 68-year-old told talkSPORT: “I was shocked. I never thought at this stage of the season… I thought there would be no jobs.

“The phone popped up with a name I knew fairly well, I knew what it was, and it took me two seconds to say yes.”

Allardyce also confirmed that Karl Robinson is part of his coaching staff with Robbie Keane joining him.

Big Sam adds his top priority will be fixing Leeds’ leaky defence in their bid to avoid the drop and admits the club’s fixtures are daunting but vowed to fight for their top flight future.

Allardyce told Jim White: “They are obviously very difficult games. We can all point out where the easiest one might be, but of course, there are no easy fixtures in the Premier League.

“We can only do what we can try and achieve, from my point of view, that is stopping the goals from going in.

“We’ve conceded 28 goals in the last 10 or 12 games and that has to stop if we’re going to get out of trouble. We’re needing to score three goals every game to win.

“If we’re left to do that, that will be impossible. I’m doing all I can with the staff to try and get the players out of trouble.”

GRACIA’S STATEMENT:

“I’m grateful for this opportunity and proud of the team, both players and coaching staff. That’s how I would like to summarize my time at Leeds United. I would have preferred a different moment, but the circumstances have changed. We arrived on a short three-month contract. And we did it because we believed in this team. We considered our chances and had confidence. And we know it is possible. We are not talking about miracles. but about the efficient result of a well done work and a process of improvement.

“The coaching staff and I took over the team in 19th position. with a run of ten games without a win. Today. after eleven games played and four games left in the league. the team is out of the relegation zone and with a good chance of achieving the objective. It has been a very intense period for many reasons. A busy schedule, injuries and a young but skilled team. However. we managed to position ourselves better than our rivals and this is shown by the results. Compared to our direct rivals and since we were hired, we are the team with the most points – eleven in total – compared to our main competitors. I am confident that the team will achieve its objective. It is a committed squad full of quality.

“A special mention must be given to the coaching staff (Zigor Aranalde, Mikel Antia and Juan Solla). Also to the fantastic Michael Skubala, Willy Alonso. Marcos Abad, Jordan Davison. Matt Robertshaw, the medical staff, the kit men. the press team. and all the club staff. Your help has been brilliant. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And I don’t want to say goodbye without thanking Victor Orta for trusting us. Honest, sincere and committed to the club. It was really a great pleasure to work with you. Both you and your team deserve the best.

“Last but not least, I would like to acknowledge the work of the fans. A fan base that supports you, that cheers you on and that I know will never give up. Best wishes for success to Leeds United,
Sincerely. Javi. White forever. “

This is what fans said as Sam Allardyce gives his first interview after becoming Leeds’ third manager of the season…

@theadelites: From Bielsa to Big Sam in less than 2 years. What a mess #LUFC

@tometry: 🤮 I know it’s essential and the last throw of the dice to keep us up but I also never thought we would ever be ‘that’ club but here we are

@reallordgreen: Doesn’t look real 😂

@LufcCalum: This is a smart move I just can’t believe, after where we were 2 year ago, we’ve got to the point where appointing Big Sam is a smart move😭

@star_whites: what exactly can anyone say, we are where we are due to multitude of poor decision making and signings. However this man is now our boss and we will get behind him in hope that results will follow – 4 games to go this season, all we have left is hope!

@jonro1465: Roll that dice. Allardyce if he keeps us up will he possibly the fastest established legend in Leeds history

@leahwalx: From Bielsa Ball to Big Sam’s Mixer Football 😂 only at Leeds.

@roclufc: The history books will never forget the ineptitude of this board. Good luck Sam!

@S200SHIE: He’ll be a hero if he keeps us in PL and it won’t be his fault if we are relegated, so has nothing to lose. Let’s hope he can instill the fight back in this squad! #mot #lufc

@KevnW67: Never in my life did I think I would be so lucky to have both Sam Allardyce and Neil Warnock manage my club #lufc

@KieranALAW: If someone said Big Sam would be the manager of the club I love in 2023 I’d have asked them what have they taken.. But and I’m clutching I know but it could work! Experienced, Good at scraping 1-0 wins, No nonsense, Tell the players some home truths 👍 Let’s get behind them! #lufc

@TheHarkLife: Is it possible to hate your own club more than any other? As despite everything, all the embarrassment, the disappointment, the suffering, the jokes, the unbearable and the ridiculous this godforsaken club has thrown up the past 20 odd years, this really takes some beating #lufc

@jsteer26:
#LUFC 22/23:
– enduring awful Marsch football
– missing ideal opportunity to sack JM prior to WC break
– £35m on Rutter
– sacking JM after transfer window;
– McKennie
– hiring the 5th choice manager
– JKA fiasco;
– Gracia & Orta sacked
– Big Sam for 4 games
The circus is back.

@Kelly_burton84: I don’t even have words. I love big Sam but to go from Bielsa to this desperation…you can’t help but laugh 😆

@AshJohnson20: Weirdly quite looking forward to this, purely for the bants. We’re basically down so might as well try have a laugh along the way. #LUFC

@LUFC_Henry: From Bielsa to Big Sam in just over a year. Fucking depressing but I hope he shithouses survival

@Lucy_LUFC: It’s just so surreal. It’s also the most pre-Bielsa Leeds United thing I have ever seen.