Patrick Bamford tips Luke Ayling to be future Leeds United manager
Patrick Bamford believes Luke Ayling could become a future Leeds United manager and has already shown great leadership skills in training.
Speaking on the BBC’s My Mate’s A Footballer podcast on Thursday (23 November), the 30-year-old spoke to comedian Joe Wilkinson about the impact of a new manager on a club and which of his current teammates would fit the bill when it comes to managing.
Having racked up 267 appearances for the Whites over a seven-year period at the club, Ayling is in the final year of his contract and rumours are beginning to circulate as to whether he will be offered another, or whether he might dip into the world of managing.
In response to being asked which player would manage training if there was no manager, Bamford responded: “Ayling. He’s experienced and has done his coaching badges to a certain level.
“He might end up being the manager. I think that’s what he wants to do anyway, that would be perfect.”
Legend status at Elland Road
Becoming the future manager at Leeds would be a brilliant end to Ayling’s story at the club. It is always a risky plan to bring back former players as a coach, but this just seems like it could be the right fit at one time or another.
The full-back knows the club inside and out, and more than that, knows and loves the community that surrounds Elland Road.
Ayling gets what it is to be a Leeds player and that would definitely translate to his managerial style, which is also seen through Farke’s bestowing of the captain’s armband.
However, the 32-year-old is still a current player at the club and needs to be treated that way. As part of the squad that brought Leeds back to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years, it would be a very sad moment if Ayling were to depart the club at the end of the season.
Although it may not be surprising, with the lack of game time he is currently getting. The right-back started the opening seven games of the season but has since only started once, with Archie Gray and Jamie Shackleton both proving their defensive capabilities in the position.
Whatever happens at the end of this season, Ayling will be a loved character around the ground for years to come, and could possibly revisit as a manager, if Bamford’s prediction is correct.
In other Leeds United news, Weston McKennie has made a fresh Whites admission after what he did.