Leeds United Appoint Javi Gracia As Manager

Premier League side, Leeds United have announced the appointment of Javi Gracia to replace Jesse Marsch as manager.

Javi Gracia last worked in the Premier League as the manager of Watford which he took to FA Cup final in 2019. Afterward, he was named the manager of the Spanish side, Valencia, and then the coach of the Qatari club Al Sadd.

The 52-year-old tactician is expected to keep Leeds United in the Premier League, a task the board thought Jesse Marsch would not be able to do, hence, he was sacked on February 6.

In absence of a permanent coach for over two weeks, things have gotten so bad for Leeds United that they are now wallowing in the 19th spot on the league table.

The club was under the tutelage of the club’s under-21 coach Michael Skubala in the interim after the departure of Marsch.

Javi Gracia’s first job in charge of Leeds United will be to defeat bottom-placed Southampton on Saturday to start their climb back to safety.

A statement from Leeds on Tuesday read that Gracia has been appointed on a “flexible contract” and will take charge of the side against Saints “subject to obtaining the necessary work permissions”.

In September 2019, Gracia was fired by Watford after a challenging start to the season.

Upon his appointment in January 2018, he only had one full season in command, leading Watford to their first FA Cup final in 35 years and finishing 11th in the Premier League.

He presided over 56 Premier League games, recording 18 victories and 1.18 points per game on average.