If Leeds United stay in the Premier League, Graham Smyth believes Marcelo Gallardo could be keen on taking the managerial job in the summer.
The Lowdown: Premier League status is key
It’s pretty obvious that Leeds and Victor Orta were left scrambling around when it came to landing a new manager, with Javi Gracia being the man they’ve eventually turned to.
Leeds did indeed try to go for other options prior to the Spaniard, with more high-profile and coveted names being approached such as Andoni Iraola, Arne Slot and ex-River Plate boss Gallardo.
Gracia will have been tasked to keep Leeds in the division, with Michael Skubala failing to turn things around as caretaker after zero wins from three games in charge, but even if the ex-Watford man does achieve that, it appears his future may not be at Elland Road.
The Latest: Gallardo may be back on the radar
Gallardo was said to be unwilling to join mid-season, but Smyth has claimed on the Inside Elland Road podcast that the Argentine could be interested in the Leeds job if they stay up.
He said: “Marcelo Gallardo was another that they looked at who would possibly be keen in the summer. It’s all very much dependent on which division they’re going to find themselves in, so we’re in for an interesting time.”
The Verdict: Leeds may be ambitious in the summer
While the Leeds board may be putting plans in place for the summer as to who their long-term managerial appointment should be, that will all go out the window if Gracia can’t mastermind a surge up the table.
Therefore, while Gallardo joining at the end of the season may seem exciting in principle based on what he achieved at River Plate, there is perhaps next to no chance he joins if Leeds are playing in the Championship.
It makes sense for Gallardo to have rejected Leeds when they approached him to replace Jesse Marsch as he wanted a full pre-season to get his methods across, and with just 15 league games left, he would have had very little time to implement his style and he could have ended up with an unwanted relegation blotted on his CV.
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