Paul Heckingbottom was in charge of Leeds United for just a few months, winning four Championship games during his time at Elland Road.
Paul Heckingbottom insists that he has no regrets about his time at Leeds United despite being sacked after just 16 games, in quotes reported by Edinburgh News.
After doing a fine job down the road at Barnsley, Heckingbottom swapped one Yorkshire outfit for another in February 2018 when he was handed an 18-month contract at Elland Road to fill the void left by the departure of Thomas Christiansen.
But a 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United in his first game in charge rather set the tone. Heckingbottom won just four games in the final three months of the season and failed to introduce any discernible style or game plan as Leeds slipped to a bottom-half finish.
In fact, the 41-year-old’s spell in the dugout was so disappointing that few questioned the decision to hand Heckingbottom his P45 at the end of the 2018/19 season.
Nonetheless, Heckingbottom still claims that he wouldn’t change anything with the benefit of hindsight.
“I’m a better manager now. And all that experience, I wouldn’t change a single bit of it,” said the Barnsley-born coach, who is now rebuilding his reputation with Hibernian.
“It wasn’t meant to be. But I know what I did well down there, I know what I’d do different. Sure as dammit I’ll be sacked again at some point. All I’ve got to do is keep getting better.”
This title-chasing Leeds side under Marcelo Bielsa could hardly be much more different from the plodding, uncertain team that struggled so badly under Heckingbottom.
But, at just 41, he has plenty of time on his side and a lot to learn.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
