Aston Villa and Leeds United fans react to Garry Monk being sacked by Birmingham City.
Even Leeds United and Aston Villa fans can’t believe that Birmingham City have sacked Garry Monk.
Speculation was rife that the former Leeds boss was set to walk away from St Andrew’s following the sale of Jota to Aston Villa earlier this month.
Monk led the Blues to safety in the Championship after taking charge in March of 2018.
The 40-year-old, who quit life at Elland Road a little over two years ago, had City challenging for a playoff spot toward the end of last season, but a nine-point deduction for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations saw them plummet down the Championship table.
Nevertheless, the West Midlands club seemed on the right track with Monk at the helm, and Leeds and Aston Villa fans are shocked by the decision to bin him.
Pep Clotet, a favourite among Leeds supporters after assisting Monk during his one and only season in West Yorkshire, has since been named caretaker manager.
The former Swansea City centre-back and head coach replaced Steve Evans at the Whites three years ago and led them to a seventh-placed finish during the 2016-17 campaign.
He remains a vilified figure among many fans for leaving the club – and swiftly joining Middlesbrough – but there is an argument to be made that Monk laid the foundations for future managers to thrive at Leeds.
During his first and last summer transfer window, Monk signed Pontus Jansson, Luke Ayling, Pablo Hernandez and Kemar Roofe, four key players for Marcelo Bielsa last term.
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