Leeds United are interested in Rayo Vallecano head coach Andoni Iraola following the news that they have sacked Jesse Marsch on Monday, according to a report from The Athletic.
Marsch’s departure comes with Leeds languishing just above the relegation zone in the Premier League. And thus, the next appointment is absolutely vital.
Iraola is hardly a household name. But he is doing a brilliant job in Spain. Rayo are sat in the top-half in La Liga, within touching distance of the European places.
Iraola a big fan of Marcelo Bielsa
Interestingly, Iraola has a couple of connections to past and present figures at Leeds. He played under Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao.
And he also went on to play alongside Jack Harrison when he finished his career with New York City. In fact, in an interview with Coaches Voice, he noted the impact working under Bielsa had on him when mentioning playing alongside Harrison.
“Then there were some other players at different stages of their careers. Angeliño, who has gone on to play at RB Leipzig, and also a very young Jack Harrison, who has thrived at Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa – a coach, by the way, who I was lucky enough to work with at Athletic. And I say lucky because it was incredible to be with him,” he told Coaches Voice.
Of course, it is no surprise to hear that the 40-year-old has been influenced by Bielsa. The Argentinian has inspired so many coaches over the years. And it seems that Iraola is another who really looks up to Bielsa.
He is an exciting name, with Rayo taking La Liga by storm with an intense style of play. He guided Rayo to promotion in his first season. And he followed that by leading the side to a mid-table finish as well as the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
He has done it on largely a shoe-string budget.
Obviously, he would have his doubters – you know, those who back Sam Allardyce and Steve Bruce for any job. But he is someone who has a clear identity for how he wants his sides to play.
Personally – as a 30-year-old Leeds fan – no football has been more enjoyable to follow than what we had under Marcelo Bielsa.
A modified version may be exactly what we need to get back on track.
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