Pundit wants Mauricio Pochettino as next Leeds United manager after Marcelo Bielsa goes
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United.
Leeds United fans are never too keen on talking about anyone managing their club other than Marcelo Bielsa.
El Loco has done a wonderful job at Elland Road in the last few years, turning himself into a real legend at the West Yorkshire club.
However, Bielsa is 66-years-old, is prone to a change of club and only ever commits himself to Leeds one year at a time so a plan always has to be in place for a replacement one day in the future.
Whether that day comes next summer or in five years’ time, we cannot say for sure but that won’t stop Leeds planning just in case that day comes sooner than they hope.
According to The Athletic journalist Adam Leventhal, Diego Martinez has been touted as someone who may be in charge at Leeds at some point in the future with the former Granada manager having links with director of football Victor Orta.
Martinez, 40, was linked with Watford before they hired Claudio Ranieri and he’s available after his contract at Granada expired at the end of last season.
When Paul Robinson was asked about Leeds possibly making a left-field appointment once Bielsa’s reign is over, the ex-goalkeeper suggested he’d rather see a bigger name head into the dug-out at Elland Road.
Speaking to MOT Leeds News, Robinson said: “For me, Pochettino would be great.
“It’s a pipe dream at the moment because Leeds are nowhere near attracting a manager with the calibre of Pochettino to succeed Bielsa.
“If you look at where he is now at PSG and look at where Leeds are in the Premier League table, Leeds have to be higher to attract a manager of that calibre and at the moment, that’s nowhere near happening.
“It’s a pipe dream.“
Robinson doesn’t feel as though talking about Bielsa’s eventual successor is merited right now though due to how well a job the Argentine has done in Yorkshire.
“To talk about the next manager in the situation we’re in is wrong,” the former Leeds and Tottenham goalkeeper added.
“Concentration needs to be put on what’s going on at the moment, backing Bielsa, who’s done an unbelievable job over the years.
“He should have that job as long as he wants it and right now is a really bad time to start talking about who’ll succeed him in the long-term.”
In other Leeds United news, the Whites want to re-sign this former midfielder in January.