Leeds not appointing Brighton boss was clearly an error, but perhaps a lucky escape for him.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton before the match
Brighton clinched promotion to the Premier League this week, with Chris Hughton’s side sitting pretty at the top of the Championship.
It is a remarkable success for Chris Hughton, and a missed opportunity for rival clubs who did not show the faith Brighton put in him.
One of these was Leeds United, who Hughton was keen to manage. In September 2014 Hughton applied for the position of Leeds head coach, The Mirror reported.
Leeds owner Massimo Cellino chose to pass on Hughton, preferring to appoint Darko Milanic, who had no experience managing in English football.
Former Leeds manager Darko Milanic
It was no surprise when just six games later Milanic was fired, given that Cellino had sacked Dave Hockaday after just four.
This was a period in which Cellino was at his most trigger happy, himself naive about English football.
Hughton’s management credentials are proven, having now won promotion with both Newcastle and Brighton.
Cellino’s decision not to appoint him was clearly an error, but there is no guarantee he would still be in charge now if he was appointed in 2014.
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