February 21, (THEWILL) – Leeds United have announced the appointment of Javi Gracia, as their new head coach, according to an official statement on the club’s website.
Gracia, who has agreed to a “flexible contract,” is set to lead the men’s first team, subject to obtaining a work permit. The 52-year-old will take over from Michael Skubala, who has been in charge of the first-team affairs since the sacking of Jesse Marsch earlier this month.
Gracia has English Premier League experience, having managed Watford between 2018 and 2019. During his tenure, he led the team to a 14th-placed finish in the 2017/2018 season and secured an appearance in the FA Cup final, where they lost to Manchester City.
He has also managed several other teams including Osasuna, Malaga, Rubin Kazan, Valencia, and Al Sadd. In the Leeds dugout, he will manage a team struggling this season. Leeds currently sit in 19th place in the epl table and with Gracia, the club hopes to turn things around and improve their position.
Meanwhile, Skubala will remain with the first team for the time being, but Gracia’s appointment signals a new direction for the club as they seek to achieve their goals for the season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
