Phil Hay shares Leeds United stance on Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira after manager interview this week
Phil Hay claims that Leeds United managerial target and former Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira presented very strongly this week.
Writing in the Athletic on 23 June, he said that Leeds were pleased by the interviews they’ve conducted in the past few weeks.
The Arsenal legend was shown the door at Selhurst Park towards the back end of the season but has impressed many of his work at the London side.
The article read, “Patrick Vieira came strongly into the reckoning latterly and Leeds knew he might be keen because they had been made aware of his interest in the job at Elland Road back when Jesse Marsch was sacked in February.
“Though Vieira was still at Crystal Palace at the time, his relationship with Palace was close to running its course and the thought of taking charge at Leeds appealed to him.
“He is said to have presented very strongly this week, although Leeds were pleased with the interviews as a whole.”
Ideal candidate?
Vieira may not have set the world alight at Palace but for the majority of his time there, he was lauded for his work and loved by the fans.
Being a reputed ex player gave him command of the dressing room and he used that to his advantage, especially while promoting young players to the senior team.
His style of football was remarkably better than his predecessor’s and there was a real connection between the team and the fans.
With eight teams realistically in a relegation battle at one stage, most owners decided to press the panic button and make a change and the same can be said about Vieira.
His time as a whole at Selhurst Park is a successful one and he’s even been lauded by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola for his work there.
Speaking to the Evening Standard in late 2021, Guardiola said, “He’s changed the dynamic, the way Palace play, changing many things. They always had really good players.
“I was delighted to see him again, he was here in my first season here.”
Should he be the next Leeds manager it should be an appointment worth looking forward to as he’s certainly better than the last three who sat on the Elland Road hot seat.
In other Leeds United, a BT Sport pundit has delivered an “Incredible” verdict as a frontrunner has emerged for the Elland Road hot seat.