Leeds United Appoint Javi Gracia As New Manager

Leeds United have agreed terms with former Watford boss Javi Gracia to replace Jesse Marsch as manager.

BBC report that Marsch was sacked on 6 February but Leeds have faced several setbacks in their hunt for his replacement.

Spaniard Gracia, 52, took Watford to the FA Cup final in 2019, before managing Valencia and Qatari club Al Sadd.

Leeds are 19th in the Premier League and host bottom club Southampton in their next game on Saturday.

The club say Gracia has been appointed on a “flexible contract” and will take charge of the side against Saints “subject to obtaining the necessary work permissions”.

Under-21s boss Michael Skubala has been in interim charge since Marsch’s sacking despite club owner Andrea Radrizzani initially promising a quick appointment.

An approach for Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola was blocked, while Feyenoord’s Arne Slot ruled himself out.

Former Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder fell out of contention after a negative reaction from many fans, and Carlos Corberan and New Zealand from July 20August 20.

- who previously worked under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds - signed a new contract at West Brom.

Gracia was sacked by Watford in September 2019 after a poor start to the season.

Having been appointed in January 2018, he led the Hornets to an 11th-place finish in the Premier League and a first FA Cup final in 35 years in his only full season in charge.

Zambia has another confirmed pre-World Cup friendly against the Republic of Ireland away in Dublin.

The friendly will come as the early phase of the pre-FIFA Women’s World Cup camp window on June 22.

The second 2023 FIFA Women’s match window will run from April 3-11.

He won 18 of his 56 matches as a manager in the Premier League, taking an average of 1.18 points per match.

Leeds have won just four league games this season, their last coming against Bournemouth on 5 November. On Saturday, they failed to register a shot on target in a 1-0 defeat by fellow strugglers Everton.