A previous managerial target of Leeds United’s, Marcelo Gallardo, is expected to take up a job in Europe during the summer.
The bottom half of the Premier League has been incredibly tight this season and the pressure to stay in the division has therefore brought a number of managerial casualties, including Leeds.
The Whites parted ways with Jesse Marsch in early February after a second lengthy winless run in the league left the side teetering too closely to the bottom three.
Who did the club look to replace Marsch with?
A host of candidates were strongly linked with the club in the week that Marsch was dismissed, with Andoni Iraola and Arne Slot perhaps the two leading candidates.
However, former River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo was another that Leeds reportedly looked at – per The Times – having left the Argentine side in December 2022.
It appeared that the reason for the Argentine not being appointed was that he was not willing to replace Marsch mid-season, instead aiming to take over a project in the summer.
Could Gallardo be an option in the summer?
The Athletic have now shared some insight into the 47-year-old’s potential return to management, reaffirming the idea that the summer is when we will be expected to see him back in the hotseat.
Whether that is Leeds, or someone else, remains to be seen as the report cites previous links to Real Madrid, PSG, Chelsea and the Whites.
“Since leaving River six months ago, Gallardo has been linked to several high-profile clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Leeds United. There will be plenty more speculation between now and the summer. A first European venture of his managerial career appears to be beckoning.”
Fulham v Leeds predictions?
Fulham win
Draw
Leeds win
Gallardo would be a very good appointment for the club to pull off in the summer, but the cat seems to be out of the bag with his credentials.
The fact that he is being touted for some of Europe’s biggest jobs does seem to suggest that we aren’t going to be the side capable of luring him.
If Leeds do stay up, there is a massive opportunity for us to source a very good managerial appointment, and Gallardo would be just that.