---
title: "Leeds: Reporter reacts to Andoni Iraola update"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-manager-latest-andoni-iraola-update/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2023-02-08T20:40:19Z"
modified: "2023-02-08T20:40:19Z"
---

# Leeds: Reporter reacts to Andoni Iraola update

**The Sun reporter [Nick Emms](https://twitter.com/NJEmms/status/1623090071816609793) has been reacting to an update involving [Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) and Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola.**

### The Lowdown: Orta in Spain

The reliable [Phil Hay](https://mobile.twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1622671802840363008) was one of the first to say that the Whites have placed Iraola on their managerial radar, with [Fabrizio Romano](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/leeds-andoni-iraola-fabrizio-romano-news/) then claiming the Spaniard is the ‘favourite candidate’ to replace Jesse Marsch after Carlos Corberan signed a [new deal](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64563256) with West Brom.

[Reports](https://www.football-espana.net/2023/02/07/leeds-united-step-up-pursuit-for-manager-as-sporting-director-travels-to-spain-for-talks) have suggested that sporting director Victor Orta is in Spain to hold talks with the La Liga side over a potential move for their manager, something that has left Emms excited.

### The Latest: Emms reacts

Taking to Twitter, [Emms](https://twitter.com/NJEmms/status/1623090071816609793), a sports reporter for [The Sun](https://www.thesun.co.uk/author/nick-emms/), reacted to the news of Orta being in Spain.

He said that Iraola ‘would be a fantastic long-term option’ at Elland Road, adding that the 40-year-old ‘could be a really exciting option for Leeds’.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”418869″\]

### The Verdict: Smart candidate?

Iraola likes to play a [4-2-3-1](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/andoni-iraola/leistungsdatenDetail/trainer/60677/saison_id/2022/wettbewerb_id/ES1/verein_id/367) system and [builds](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/andoni-iraola-profiled-rayo-vallecano-26172957) his sides around high-pressing and energetic football, something that the Whites faithful enjoyed under Marcelo Bielsa.

He is on course for a [career-best](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/andoni-iraola/leistungsdatenLigenNational/trainer/60677) league finish in Spain, with Vallecano currently in [fifth](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/andoni-iraola/leistungsdatenLigenNational/trainer/60677) place in La Liga after [20](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/andoni-iraola/leistungsdatenLigenNational/trainer/60677) fixtures.

Iraola’s side have even managed to [draw](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/andoni-iraola/leistungsdatenDetail/trainer/60677/saison_id/2022/wettbewerb_id/ES1/verein_id/367) with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid this season while also inflicting a [3-2](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/andoni-iraola/leistungsdatenDetail/trainer/60677/saison_id/2022/wettbewerb_id/ES1/verein_id/367) defeat on Real Madrid, so in regards to the long-term project at Elland Road, this looks a shrewd appointment as he appears to be going from strength to strength in the dugout.