It is almost six weeks since Javi Gracia was hired as Leeds United manager but it was another Spaniard that was first offered the Leeds gig – and Andoni Iraola has finally broken his silence on the offer from Leeds, to Marca.
Following the sacking of Jesse Marsch, Leeds had targeted Iraola. Little surprise. His form in La Liga with minnows Rayo Vallecano was eye-catching. On a shoe string, he had taken Rayo to within a shout for European football.
After an initial move fell through, the Mail reported that Leeds even went back in for Iraola – who would have cost the Whites around £7m. But the 40-year-old has remained at Rayo, as he looks to secure European qualification.
Since the links with Leeds, Iraola – a former Athletic Bilbao player under Marcelo Bielsa – has watched on as Rayo have gone six games without a win. Now, he has given an interview to Marca and gave his take on the Leeds offer.
“When you are in a team, with a contract, you are not thinking about other situations. It surprises you, but it is something that we talked about in its day and it did not last very long. From there, we continue working the same.”
Asked about working in England in the future, Iraola said: “I don’t know if I will have that possibility. Talking about the future is very complicated, but that’s where the money is. Sadly in football, the best players go where the money is.”
Andoni Iraola has broken silence on the offer from Leeds United
He certainly suggests he would be open to taking a job in the Premier League in the future. From his quotes, it sounds like that the only obstacle in him taking the Leeds gig was that it was in the middle of the season at Rayo.
Surely, if Leeds have come calling in the off-season, or with Premier League safety secured, you would imagine Iraola would have been much more tempted. That is pure speculation, though, and Gracia is doing a very solid job.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
