Former Leeds United boss Garry Monk has been installed as Birmingham City’s new manager.
Former Leeds United manager Garry Monk has been handed his third job in a year after taking over the reigns at Birmingham City, less than three months after being sacked by Middlesbrough.
The former Swansea City manager departed Elland Road at the end of last season after a disagreement with owner Andrea Radrizzani over the length of his contract at Leeds. He was snapped up by Middlesbrough.
However, he failed to push Boro into the promotion places after last season’s relegation from the Premier League despite spending huge amounts of money. He now faces a relegation fight with the Blues, replacing Steve Cotterill.
Signing a three-and-a-half-year deal at St. Andrews, Monk is seemingly in it for the long haul with the Midlands club and will be looking to keep his side in the league before bringing in his own players in the summer.
One player he could look to lure to the Midlands is Leeds playmaker Pablo Hernandez, as the Spaniard remains in the final few months of his contract under Paul Heckingbottom.
Monk played with and managed Hernandez at Swansea before luring him back to English football after the ex-Valencia attacker had a brief stint in the middle east, by convincing Hernandez to move to Elland Road.
The four-time Spain international has since starred in the Championship, scoring 10 goals and turning provider on a further 15 occasions during 66 second-tier outings. But Hernandez, who turns 33 in April, is yet to be offered a new deal.
His current contract, said to be worth £19,000 a week according to the Daily Star, expires in the summer and he could be allowed to leave on a free if Leeds do not secure his future between now and the end of the season.
It could see Monk look to steal in, with the opportunity to work with the talented young manager for a third time.
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