When Andoni Iraola rebuffed Leeds United’s advances following the sacking of Jesse Marsch nearly two months ago, his Rayo Vallecano side were flying high in La Liga; qualification for the Champions League not yet out of the question.
As March rolls into April, however, a top-four finish now looks well beyond a Rayo side who’s prolonged spell of overachieving appears to have caught up to them. A Europa League spot might be slipping away too. In fact, there are now only four measly points separating Rayo Vallecano from Real Mallorca in 11th.
Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Girona was their sixth La Liga match in a row without a win. In fact, the last time Rayo tasted victory was February 6th. Coincidentally, the same day that The Athletic released a report naming Iraola, who worked under Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao, had emerged as a leading candidate to take Marsch’s place in the Elland Road dugout.
Leeds United are big fans of La Liga manager Andoni Iraola
“Iraola looks like he could be, if not the favourite, then certainly up there, and for a number of reasons. Obviously, he is an excellent candidate,” Spanish football expert Phil Kitromilides told talkSPORT at the time.
“What he’s done with a really, really small club in Spain with absolutely no money…”
“He’s improved this Rayo team, which is a limited team in terms of big names and quality. He improves players individually, and got them playing an incredible brand of football. So he’s a really, really strong candidate.
“And you can understand why Leeds are looking at him.”
Leeds were not only ‘looking at’ Iraola. They were, according to Marca, willing to trigger the £7 million release clause in the 40-year-old’s contract. A move that would have made Iraola the fourth-most expensive managerial appointment in Premier League history. Iraola opted to stay put until the summer, out of loyalty to the club who handed him his big La Liga break.
A six-game winless run, despite bringing an end to Rayo’s Champions League dreams, is unlikely to have Leeds U-turning on their admiration for a man who remains high on the list to replace Javi Gracia once his short-term contract comes to an end.
But in the worst-case scenario that Rayo’s poor form continues – and season which threatened to turn into a top-four challenge ends in a bottom-half finish – Iraola may find his odds lengthening. Particularly if one of his big rivals for the post, Arne Slot, succeeds in guiding Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
