Gaetano Berardi addresses possibility of becoming Leeds manager after retirement

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Gaetano Berardi has revealed he ‘one day’ hopes he can return to Leeds United once he completes his coaching badges.

Berardi was speaking in an interview with BBC West Yorkshire Sport after announcing his retirement as a player earlier this week, and claimed he will always keep the door open on a possible return.

The 34-year-old decided to hang his boots after a final season in the second tier of his native Switzerland at AC Bellinzona.

Bellinzona was the second club Berardi played for following his departure from Leeds two years ago having also spent a brief time at FC Sion.

Berardi is still revered around Elland Road for his contribution to the club between 2014 and 2021, as he played an important role in Leeds’ promotion back to the Premier League during his penultimate year at the club.

Berardi open to Leeds return

Following a career that spanned over 350 appearances for club and country – 157 of which were at Leeds – Berardi is now taking the next step.

He has confirmed he will be looking to go into coaching and is set to begin accumulating his badges in the coming months.

When asked on the possibility of a return to Leeds, he claimed it is something he would one day love to do following his time as a player.

He said: “I will start in Italy with coaching badges and then we will see, I’m not sure what I will find but I don’t want to talk about my future, I will take my next step and then see.

“Of course I will keep in contact with Leeds, I will follow them and maybe one day there is a chance to come back in some way because I don’t want to forget the people who is still there, my old teammates, they are great people and I know they are suffering in the last period.”

It would be great if Berardi one day return to Leeds in a coaching capacity.

He was clearly someone who got what it was like to play for Leeds and that is something he would be able to pass on to others.

That said, it is important he attains all the relevant qualifications, and from then on, who knows.