There were a whole plethora of managers linked with Leeds United before the club decided to hire Javi Gracia back in February 2023, and one of them has just left his post despite a record-breaking season.
Liverpool’s Arne Slot was strongly linked with Leeds, as was Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. But ultimately, the Whites could not tempt any exciting managers to Elland Road with Leeds near relegation.
Javi Gracia arrived after a three-game interim stint under Michael Skubala and the Spaniard turned things around initially, before a 5-1 hammering by Crystal Palace saw a beleaguered Leeds end up going down.
Since then, Daniel Farke has been appointed to try and take Leeds back into the Premier League and at the second time of asking, Leeds are right in the mix. But one manager linked in 2023 is now available.
Tata Martino leaves Inter Miami 18 months after Leeds approach
It was always a bit ambitious, but Leeds made an approach for Tata Martino after Jesse Marsch’s sacking. The former Barcelona and Argentina boss was seen as a possible return to the glory of Marcelo Bielsa.
Martino was out of work at the time having left his post as Mexico boss in 2022. But after rejecting Leeds, Martino took over the reigns at Inter Miami, the MLS club part-owned by no other than David Beckham.
Martino guided a side including Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets to a record-breaking 74-point season in the MLS, only to lose early in the MLS play-offs to Martino’s old club Atlanta.
What Marcelo Bielsa has said in the past about Tata Martino
It is completely hypothetical, but Martino is a manager to have managed right at the top level of the sport. It is not the first time he has been Messi’s manager either of course, having worked at Barcelona.
It is not far-fetched to believe that had Martino been appointed, he would have immediately commanded the respect of the Leeds squad in 2022-23 and safety might have been achieved come the summer.
Martino’s managerial career in the last 20 years:
| Club/Country | Date | Games | Wins | Win percentage |
| Colon | January 2005 – June 2005 | 21 | 7 | 33.33% |
| Libertad | July 2005 – June 2006 | 75 | 39 | 52% |
| Paraguay | July 2007 – July 2011 | 71 | 24 | 33.8% |
| Newell’s Old Boys | January 2012 – July 2013 | 71 | 36 | 50.7% |
| Barcelona | July 2013 – July 2014 | 59 | 40 | 67.8% |
| Argentina | August 2014 – July 2016 | 29 | 19 | 65.5% |
| Atlanta United | September 2016 – December 2018 | 74 | 40 | 54% |
| Mexico | January 2019 – November 2022 | 66 | 40 | 60.6% |
| Inter Miami | July 2023 – November 2024 | 67 | 35 | 52.2% |
But instead, Martino ignored Leeds. A manager Marcelo Bielsa once said was “exceptional” as a player during an interview with The Guardian. In terms of Leeds, there aren’t many better sources of praise.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
