Javi Gracia sacked as Leeds United appoint Sam Allardyce to oversee Premier League survival bid
ByTNT Sports
Updated 03/05/2023 at 10:46 GMT+1
Javi Gracia has been sacked as the manager of Leeds after overseeing four losses in their last five matches. Gracia was hired in February on a "flexible contract" as the successor to Jesse Marsch and has taken charge of 12 matches, but the club face the real threat of relegation. Sam Allardyce becomes Leeds' third manager of the season with four games left in the season.
'When I look at it, this is not over’ - Arteta on title race
Javi Gracia has been sacked as Leeds United manager with Sam Allardyce handed the task of masterminding their Premier League survival bid.
Gracia departs Leeds with the club in relegation trouble. The Spaniard won just three of his 11 matches in charge and leaves them in 17th place and only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
In their last five matches, Leeds have conceded 18 goals, including back-to-back 5-1 and 6-1 home losses against Crystal Palace and Liverpool, and a 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday.
Widespread reports that veteran manager Allardyce would be appointed imminently to guide the Yorkshire club for the final four games of the season were confirmed with the team announcing his appointment in the same statement.
The former England manager, 68, has vast experience in the English top flight with the likes of Bolton, West Ham and Everton and has a reputation as something of a survival specialist.
However, he has been out of work since his West Bromwich Albion side were relegated in 2020/21, the first top-flight demotion of Allardyce's career.
Allardyce faces a daunting start to his new job; Leeds' next match is against Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday before they host third-placed Newcastle United a week later.
Leeds then travel to London to face West Ham United, before a potentially crucial final game of the season against Tottenham at Elland Road.
Leeds' statement on the manager change read as follows: "Leeds United can confirm Javi Gracia will leave the club after 12 games in charge.
"Zigor Aranalde, Mikel Antia and Juan Solla, who joined alongside Gracia, will also leave the club.
"We thank Javi and his team for their efforts under difficult circumstances. The remaining four games of the season will be overseen by experienced head coach Sam Allardyce.
"Allardyce has managed over 500 Premier League games in a managerial career stretching 29 years and he brings a wealth of knowledge in fighting for survival, having guided a number of his previous clubs to safety.
"His first experience of the top-flight came with Bolton Wanderers, who he would guide into Europe for the first time in the club’s history. Following this, he went on to manage Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United, earning promotion to the Premier League in his first season with the Hammers.
"Over the past decade, he has successfully helped Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Everton avoid relegation from the Premier League during short-term stints.
"Allardyce will be assisted by former MK Dons, Charlton Athletic and Oxford United manager Karl Robinson. His first game in charge of the Whites will be Saturday’s Premier League away trip at Manchester City."
Gracia wasn't the only casualty of their poor recent form as Leeds also announced that director of football Victor Orta has departed.
Orta joined Leeds in 2017 and oversaw the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa, the Argentine manager who led the club back to the Premier League after a 16-year absence.
Owner Andrea Radrizzani said: “I am deeply saddened by the way that this chapter closes as Victor has been responsible for some of the best moments of my time as owner of Leeds United and I thank him and his people for all they have done in the past six years.
“However, it is clear that it is time to change direction and therefore we have agreed that Victor will leave the club. I understand supporters are hurt and upset, but now is a time for unity.
“We have four cup finals left to play this season, and working together, I believe we can survive.”
This season has been a long and difficult one for the Elland Road side, with Allardyce becoming their third manager of the campaign following the dismissal of Jesse Marsch in February and Gracia's sacking.
On Monday, the Leeds squad issued an apology after footage emerged on social media of the players appearing to ignore a group of supporters ahead of Sunday's game against Bournemouth.
“As the first team squad at Leeds United, we wanted to reach out to the fan base regarding yesterday’s game and subsequent posts on social media,” the players wrote in a statement.
“Firstly, the performance was not good enough. There is no other way to look at it and the only way to respond is on the pitch. Leeds fans travel up and down the country in huge numbers and deserve more than this.
“What is just as concerning to us as a group is the video online of us leaving the hotel. Words can’t express how sorry we are that the youngster in the video wearing the Leeds kit is not shown more love from the squad. There is no excuse for not acknowledging fans.”
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement