Patrick Bamford has suggested Luke Ayling would love to manage Leeds United and the defender has even pocketed some coaching badges along the way – as he nears eight years at Elland Road.
Ayling is inside the final 12 months of his contract at Leeds, but boasts iconic status after being a part of the side that finally returned Leeds to the Premier League after 16 years. Now, he is struggling to play.
Archie Gray, Jamie Shackleton and Djed Spence are all getting minutes ahead of Ayling. But, he remains dedicated to the cause. TeamTalk say Daniel Farke has already decided to hand him a new Leeds deal.
Ayling is 32. The thought of what to do when he finally retires will be on his mind. If the £750k signing decides to leave Leeds, or retire when his time at Elland Road does come to an end, is up in the air.
Bamford was asked who’d take Leeds training, if the club didn’t have a manager. He responded on My Mate’s A Footballer podcast: “Luke Ayling. Experienced. Done his coaching badges to a certain level.”
Bamford said he’d pick the team but would have Ayling as his confidant, joking Ayling could manage us. “He might end up being the manager. I think that’s what he wants to do anyway, that would be perfect.”
Patrick Bamford says Luke Ayling would love to manage Leeds
You could see it. Already, Ayling is the kind of player that is showing the perfect attitude behind the Leeds scenes despite not playing. You would expect him to have a few more years left as a player.
But in terms of personality in a player, you can see a manager in Ayling. Leadership, experience, the knowledge of the Premier League and Football League. Tactical adaptation to different styles of football.
Ayling has that in abundance. Can he transfer it into management one day? Well, it looks as though he already is partaking in that process, with coaching badges secured. Maybe, one day, he will manage us.
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