Andoni Iraola finally breaks silence on Leeds United managerial saga
Rayo Vallecano head coach Andoni Iraola has finally broken his silence on the Leeds United managerial links stating he does not know if he’d like to train in England in the future.
Iraola was long earmarked as the frontrunner [BBC Sport, 8 February] for the Elland Road vacancy after Jesse March’s sacking [Sky Sports, 6 February] before the Whites finally decided to appoint former Watford boss Javi Gracia before the end of February.
The former Athletic Bilbao defender could still be on the radar for a move to West Yorkshire in the future, with his contract at the La Liga club set to expire at the end of the season.
Asked [Marca, 31 March] about Leeds United director of football Victor Orta’s call, Iraoloa says he was focused on the job at hand and did not think about the rumours which didn’t “last very long”.
He said: “When you are in a team, with a contract, with games ahead and your goals, you are not thinking about other situations. It is something that surprises you, but it is something that we already talked about in its day and it did not last very long. From there, we continue working the same.
Asked if he would like to manage in the Premier League in the future, he said:
“I don’t know if I’m going to have that possibility. Talking about the future is very complicated, but I do believe that this is where the money is. Sadly in football, the best players go where the money is. We are already seeing in international competitions that it is increasingly difficult to compete against teams from the Premier.”
Don’t rule out
What will encourage the Leeds United board is that Iraola hasn’t given a plain “no” to potentially managing the club in the near future and a move for the Spaniard if the Whites secure their Premier League status for next season cannot be ruled out entirely.
However, Gracia has done an impressive job since he’s come in so far, even despite not being one of the favourites for the job at first. In his five games as manager, the Whites have managed seven points from a possible 15 offer which represents brilliant form, especially when steeped in a relegation dogfight.
If the former Watford manager was to succeed in keeping the club in the Premier League, the club board would be forgiven for sticking with him considering his wealth of experience in the top flight in comparison to Iraola’s lack of it.
Relegation will desperately want to be avoided next season, for which Leeds United will certainly need to extra consideration when appointing their new manager this summer. Iraola is a promising candidate, one who fits the mould Orta is trying to breed at Elland Road in the long term, but the risks may out way the positives.
In other Leeds United news, a return date for Stuart Dallas has finally been mooted.
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