Hockaday was the first appoitment made by Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino.
Former Leeds boss Hockaday barks orders, as current first team coach James Beattie applauds in the background
Little over two years after leaving his job as manager of Leeds United, Dave Hockaday has landed himself a new role outside of professional football.
Hockaday, whose only prior managerial experience came during a three-year spell at Forest Green Rovers, was the shock first appointment of Massimo Cellino’s Elland Road reign.
However, the 58-year-old was quickly replaced, after losing four of his six games in charge of Leeds, in favour of Slovenian boss Darko Milanic – who in turn was sacked after six weeks in charge.
Milanic
A short spell as Coventry City’s caretaker boss and three months as manager of National League side Kidderminster Harriers followed, although Hockaday was scarcely seen or heard of since.
That is until now, with Gloucestershire Live reporting that the South Gloucestershire and Stroud College have handed him a job as head of their male football academy.
“This is my passion, this is what I believe in, and I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this to come up,” Hockaday is quoted as saying.
“We’re here to give young men options in life. We will organise a full time professional training programme, where students succeed both on and off the field. Achieving academically is equally as important as achieving in the football academy.
“I believe that Bristol Academy of Sport can become the best football academy in the country. The facilities are fantastic – I doubt there is another college academy system in the country with better facilities. I see massive potential.”
Leeds, meanwhile, finally look to be heading in the right direction under new boss Garry Monk, who became Cellino appointment number 6 in June this year.
Neil Redfearn, Uwe Rosler and Steve Evans have each managed the Whites in between.
As a player, Hockaday turned out for Blackpool, Swindon Town and Shrewsbury Town, as well as Leeds’ Yorkshire rivals Hull City.
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