As you might imagine, considering how he goes about his business on the pitch, Leeds United’s £4 million man is a pretty studious, considered and intelligent individual off it too.
He does pick up the PlayStation controller ‘now and then’ but it’s politics which holds his interest.
A contrast to the usual stereotype, then. Ilia Gruev believes it is wrong to ‘pigeonhole’ footballers simply as spoiled sportsman who barely ever step outside their own bubble. It may be just as unfair to ‘pigeonhole’ the man himself, with regards to what he brings to the table at Leeds United.
Daniel Farke highlighted Ilia Gruev’s often understated importance recently. Especially in tough away games where possession is at less of a premium. The £4 million signing from Werder Bremen is not merely a belligerent ball-winner tasked with knocking opponents off their stride, even if he does excel in such circumstances.
Gruev ranks in the top five at Leeds for tackles, yes, but also interceptions, pass completion and key passes into the attacking third. The Bulgaria international averages more successful dribble attempts, meanwhile, than Mateo Joseph, Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani. And who can forget his genius free-kick in the play-offs against Norwich City?
Gruev, a keen interest in political science, is not your run of the mill footballer. He is not your run of the mill defensive midfielder either. Something a little more rounded.
Ilia Gruev explains why he left Werder Bremen for Leeds United
This summer will mark the two-year anniversary of the deal which took Gruev from the Weser Stadium to Elland Road. After Leeds missed out on Bayer Leverkusen’s Nadiem Amiri, they secured a deal for another of their Bundesliga targets.
Despite being born in Bulgaria, meanwhile, Gruev rose through the ranks during eight years at Werder Bremen. So, when packing his things and crossing the Channel, this was not a decision the Sofia native took lightly.
“Absolutely [joining Leeds was the right call], both in terms of athletics and in terms of my personal development,” Gruev tells German publication Sport1. “It’s a huge club and a fantastic experience for me.
“Leeds United has a high status in England and is extremely important to the people of the city. For me, it was a truly great step.
“When I left Bremen, I left my comfort zone. I was there for eight years and had a great time at Werder. It was a bit of home for me. Then, the offer came from Leeds and I was immediately interested.
“Something is happening at the club, and football in England is very different to that in Germany.”
This week, Gruev’s occasional central midfield partner Ao Tanaka spoke out about his Premier League ambitions. The top-flight of English football is something Leeds’ number 44 is also keen to try out.
Gruev and Daniel Farke have a mutual respect at Elland Road
“The Premier League is the best league in the world,” Gruev adds, while opening up on his relationship with fellow German-speaker Daniel Farke. “Moving to Leeds brings me a step closer to that. We’re doing very well at the moment and now we finally want to make the step up.
“[Farke] was promoted twice with Norwich and he has a good reputation here in England. The coach trusts me and plays me, which is the best thing for me. I don’t need a coach who talks to me a lot. What is important is that I feel his trust.
“I have a very good relationship with the coach. Daniel Farke is someone who wants to help a player. He knows exactly when to talk to a player. That’s one of his qualities. And he doesn’t overdo it with personal conversations. He’s demanding and very ambitious.
“Things are going very well for me. Thanks to the coach, I simply enjoy a different status than I did in Bremen. That’s always pleasing for a player.”
By his own admission, Daniel Farke regretted leaving Ilia Gruev on the Leeds bench during the 2-2 draw at Queens Park Rangers last time out.
With away trips to survival-chasing Luton Town and an occasionally-dangerous Middlesbrough to come after the international break, do not be surprised if Gruev returns to the starting XI.
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