Leeds United are still no closer to finding Jesse Marsch’s successor, though one former Premier League manager appears to be in the running at Elland Road…
What’s the latest Leeds manager news?
According to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs, links to Nuno Espirito Santo have legs, though they will need to prize him away from his contract at Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad Club.
The Times recently reported that it would cost £5.3m to bring the Portuguese back to England, where he enjoyed mixed success during stints at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur.
“There are legs in the Nuno Espirito Santo links and he’s a manager that comes with Premier League experience,” the reliable reporter told GIVEMESPORT.
It comes after missing out on a host of leading candidates, ranging from Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola to West Bromwich Albion saviour Carlos Corberan, both of whom have major influence from ex-Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa, whilst Dutch duo Arne Slot and Alfred Schreuder are also unlikely, per Sky Sports.
What is Nuno Santo’s record in the Premier League?
There is no denying that Nuno would bring a wealth of experience with him, having managed 124 matches in the competition but back in the day, even Terry Venables was an ‘experienced’ head in the English top-flight.
The legendary England midfielder enjoyed early success in his coaching career at Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers, eventually leading to managerial roles at FC Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur and the national side, where he led the Three Lions to a European Championship semi-final.
By the time he arrived at Elland Road, Leeds were in dire financial straits and had sold their star player Rio Ferdinand only a few weeks prior, though he still had a very strong squad at his disposal.
With the west Yorkshire giants spiralling towards relegation, the renowned name of Venables was sacked in March 2003, They would finish 15th before being relegated one year later.
Nuno got Wolves back in the big time with a Championship title triumph in 2017/18 and then steered the Old Gold to their first season in Europe in over 30 years by qualifying for the Europa League.
He’d then move onto Spurs, whose managerial search was very much in a similar vein to Leeds’ right now – desperate and aimless. It didn’t go to plan there as he left after just 17 matches in charge, leaving the Portuguese coach with a rather poor overall record in the top-flight.
Indeed, he’s won just 38.7% of matches, having also averaged 1.24 goals allowed per game. For context, that’s as bad as what Venables managed back in 2002/03 and is worse than managers like Garry Monk and Thomas Christiansen.
Leeds need a drastic turnaround in form to salvage their place in the Premier League once again, and given Nuno’s track record, he’s unlikely to be the man to convert a struggling outfit into a winning one in such a short space of time.
Especially as he’s been noted as being “difficult to work with” and some reports even suggested that he made the Spurs dressing room “unhappy.”
It would be a rather desperate move from Radrizzani to settle for the 49-year-old just because he’s been there and done it in the top-flight before. Ultimately, he now finds himself in Saudi Arabia and that should be enough of a deterrent to look elsewhere.
If the Italian chairman now opts for Nuno, then he may well seal a place in the Championship next term.
AND in other news, Phil Hay reveals huge Michael Skubala update…