Searching for Jesse Marsch’s successor at Leeds United ends today with the appointment of Javi Gracia. The 52-year-old has agreed terms on a contract which the club has described as flexible.
Gracia has been out of work since June 2022, when he was replaced at Qatari outfit Al Sadd by one of Pep Guardiola’s former assistants, Juan Manuel Lillo. The Spaniard arrives at Leeds with the club 19th in the Premier League on two wins from their last 20 matches.
Michael Skubala has overseen three matches as caretaker boss with a spirited one point from six against in-form Manchester United and a dire loss at struggling Everton. It remains to be seen which role he now takes up.
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Gracia is undoubtedly best known in England for his work with Watford. He took the Hornets to the second FA Cup final in their history and 11th in the top flight, their highest league finish since Graham Taylor’s last campaign at the helm in 1986/87 (ninth).
Despite that successful 2018/19 campaign, Gracia would be sacked by Watford after just five matches of the following season. Three losses and one draw from the opening four weeks of the Premier League did for Gracia, though three wins from the last 11 games of 18/19 did not help his cause.
The former Real Sociedad player has had a varied and broad managerial career up to now. United will be his 13th senior appointment.
Spain, Greece, Russia, England and Qatar have all been visited along the way. Gracia has won the third-tier title in Spain on two occasions, collected an FA Cup runners-up medal with Watford and then clinched the Qatar Stars League crown with Al Sadd last year.
Gracia arrives a fraction over two weeks since Marsch was sacked at Elland Road. Andoni Iraola, Arne Slot and Marcelo Gallardo were initially pursued by director of football Victor Orta, but none proved to be available.
Skubala was originally expected to take charge of at least the Everton and Southampton matches, but Leeds have acted swiftly following Saturday’s loss, which featured several angry chants aimed at the board and Orta.
A club statement said: "The club hope Gracia’s first game in charge of the Whites will be Saturday’s Premier League clash against Southampton at Elland Road, subject to obtaining the necessary work permissions."
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