Javi Gracia is the new manager of Leeds United, but his long-term future at the club is already in a bit of doubt.
Indeed, in their announcement of Gracia’s arrival, the Whites stated that he’s signed a ‘flexible contract’ and according to some reports, this deal only initially runs until the end of the season.
To us, that suggests that Gracia could be out of the hotseat this summer if the higher-ups decide they want to go in another direction, and, in our view, there’s one obvious direction they could go in.
Before appointing Gracia, Leeds were linked with a host of names to replace Jesse Marsch, with Andoni Iraola reportedly top of their list.
However, Rayo Vallecano were unwilling to let their manager leave mid-season, and Leeds eventually settled on Gracia as their new boss.
Although, with Gracia signing what seems to be a unique deal with Leeds, another change could be on the horizon, and Iraola could be back in the fray before too long.
There are a few reasons why Iraola could still end up at Leeds, even after the appointment of Gracia. Firstly, his contract with Rayo Vallecano expires at the end of the season, which would make him available to move to Elland Road. Additionally, it’s clear that Leeds were very keen on Iraola after sacking Marsch, and there’s no reason to think that their interest has waned.
But perhaps the biggest reason why Iraola could still become Leeds manager is the fact that Gracia clearly wasn’t the first choice. Leeds explored the likes of Arne Slot, Carlos Corberan, Alfred Schreuder and Marcelo Gallardo before settling on Gracia. Simply put, he’s not the man the club wanted.
Of course, there are no guarantees that Iraola would even want to come to Leeds. After all, there’s a very real chance that they could be playing in the Championship next season, but if they do manage to stay up, don’t be too shocked if it’s Gracia out and Iraola in once his contract with Vallecano expires.
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