Ray Parlour has told TalkSPORT (Tuesday, 9.15AM) that Andoni Iraola would be an exciting appointment at Leeds, but Simon Jordan later disagreed regarding the Spanish gaffer – claiming his ‘organised chaos’ approach does not help us.
Iraola, 40, is being strongly linked with a move to Elland Road. The Rayo Vallecano boss is impressing. Taking a small La Liga side with a tiny budget to fifth in the top tier of Spanish football. It comes after he pushed Rayo to promotion.
The Times report that Leeds have whittled down their managerial shortlist to three names. Iraola is one of those, with Victor Orta flying out to Spain for talks with Iraola and Rayo – as per the Mail. Arne Slot, Marcelo Gallardo, also options.
Parlour was asked about Iraola, who is very much an unknown in terms of English football. But a manager that played under Marcelo Bielsa at Bilbao – and played with Jack Harrison at New York City. Parlour is clearly impressed by Iraola.
“He’s a young coach, got him promoted and doing well in La Liga. So it looks like he has got the potential go in at Leeds and do a good job,” Parlour told TalkSPORT. Simon Jordan disagreed on the same platform (Tuesday, 10.25AM).
Ray Parlour excited by Andoni Iraola at Leeds but Simon Jordan disagrees
While Iraola deserves enormous praise for his work as Rayo manager – and the previous spells before that – Jordan raises a good point. Our way of playing is already organised chaos and that is what many have described Iraola’s style.
Constant work rate, but a high press and plenty of width – similarities, then, with Bielsa. Leeds are in the position they are in due to organised chaos, under Marsch. Bringing in another of that style and type may see Leeds continue to fail.
