Leeds United

3 managers Leeds United need to be considering in case they are relegated to the Championship

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Leeds United‘s position in the Premier League remains in the balance with only a few games remaining this season.

Javi Gracia was appointed as manager on a “flexible” contract in February, replacing Jesse Marsch in the Elland Road hotseat for at least the remainder of the season.

The Whites may be inclined to keep the Spaniard, irrespective of the division the club finds itself in next season.

However, the decision for who will take charge of the club going forward will come to a head this summer, relegation or not, one way or another.

Here, we take a look at THREE managers Leeds should be considering if they fall into the Championship.

Kjetil Knutsen

Knutsen’s stock is growing as a manager and he would be a good choice for Leeds to go with, in either the Premier League or the second tier.

He’s currently in charge of Bodø/Glimt in Norway’s Eliteserien where he has been for over five years now and won the manager of the year three times in that period. His eye-catching style was most well noticed in the Europa Conference League last season, which included a 6-1 win over eventual champions AS Roma last season.

He is one of the most tactically innovative managers outside of the big five leagues and his reputation is growing by the game. A move to a more competitive and stronger league is surely coming soon for the 54-year-old.

Quiz: 15 questions all about Leeds United’s stint in the EFL – Can you score 100%?

1 of 15

What position did Leeds finish in their first season in the Championship in 2004/05?

Russell Martin

Martin is a young coach currently in charge of a team in the Championship already, in the form of play-off chasers Swansea City.

He may not come cheap for the Whites for that reason, but could provide them with a new brand of fast, high possession based football. The current team seem to have lost their ability to string passing sequences, and Martin would quickly remedy that.

At 37, and having only managed MK Dons and Swansea so far over the last few years, Martin is someone who is still new to and learning the game as a coach. However, his philosophy and principles line up well for a team vying for promotion. Leeds could also provide him with a better platform than Swansea, given the likely differences in budget and resources.

Francesco Farioli

Currently out of work after leaving Turkish side Alanyaspor in February after 48 games in charge of the club, Farioli may be the easiest to secure of the three names here.

The 34-year-old is a very young and exciting coach, who’s teams set up to play exciting, aesthetically pleasing football on the front foot, which would make him the perfect contingency plan for Leeds as the ideal candidate for a Championship promotion push.

Farioli would bring back some of the automations and interplay which made Leeds fans fall back in love with football under Marcelo Bielsa. He loves to press, but above all wants to impose his dominance and control over the opposition. His ideas are thought-provoking and would be a breath of fresh air at Elland Road.

Is Gracia the right manager for Leeds?

Yes

Yes

No

No

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