George Overhill

Mon 19 June 2023 6:40, UK

The Leeds United manager hunt may have been blown open over the weekend with the surprise news that Andoni Iraola has been snubbed for the Almeria job.

The former Rayo Vallecano boss appeared to be set for the Andalusian club after they made him an “irresistible” financial offer which had essentially secured his agreement [Diario de Almeria, 12 June].

But in an official announcement on Saturday (17 June) side that finished 17th in La Liga announced that former Mallorca and Espanyol boss Vicente Moreno had been appointed instead.

Iraola had been one of the leading candidates for the Elland Road role the first of the many times Leeds United have been looking for a new manager over the past six months, when Jesse Marsch was sacked on 6 February.

At the time he proved impossible to prize from Rayo Vallecano despite being Victor Orta’s favourite, forcing the Whites further and further down their shortlist before they eventually landed on Javi Gracia.

The 40-year-old subsequently admitted he wants the chance to manage in the Premier League when speaking to Sky Sports on 17 May.

Despite being linked to Sevilla and Villarreal prior to leaving his previous role [Marca, 26 May], and the jobs at Marseille and Celtic when he was surveying his options [Diario de Almeria, 12 June], it was the comparatively unheralded Almeria job that appeared to be his despite the La Liga side only surviving relegation by a point last season.

The Celtic job is set to be filled by new the Leeds United owners’ top candidate in Brendan Rodgers, after Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday night (18 June) it was “here we go soon” on the ex-Leicester boss’ return to Parkhead.

So, given the 49ers favourite this summer is now off the market having turned down managing in the Championship the Whites may be convinced to make a late play for the man who was a leading option four months ago now that he is surprisingly still available.

If Iraola wants to work in the Premier League then, absent a current top flight side suddenly making a play for him, a promotion push at Elland Road could be his most likely avenue to do so.

And while, Orta is gone and Andrea Radrizzani eventually followed, the ongoing central involvement of Angus Kinnear and the continuity of Paraag Marathe’s presence in the hierarchy mean the Iraola links are not entirely cold.

Phil Hay reported in The Athletic on 14 June interviews continuing into the start of the new week, with the likes of Daniel Farke, Carlos Corberan and possibly Scott Parker left in the running.

It may be that one of those names are already close to being named the successor to Sam Allardyce, but the signs suggested Iraola had a new job on the cards and extensive competition for his signature.

So having unexpectedly ended up still on market both he and Leeds United may now have be minded to react by making a late link, possibly allowing the Whites to land him two appointments later than originally planned.

In other Leeds United news, a key first-team ace is ready to move to a Premier League club to be closer to family amid talks over his sale.