Brian Deane has Leeds United at heart but has joked that the ship has sailed on him potentially becoming manager at Elland Road.
The Whites have been chasing a new manager since sacking Jesse Marsch over two weeks ago.
The American struggled for points but finding a suitable replacement hasn’t exactly been easy for Leeds.
A number of targets have been identified but many have chosen to stay with their current clubs – such as Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola and Feyenoord’s Arne Slot.
Leeds have finally landed their new manager with Spaniard Javi Gracia announced as the new man in the Elland Road hot seat this afternoon.
There were links to another Spaniard in Rafael Benitez, a man Brian Deane wanted before laughing off the suggestion of taking the job himself.
Brian Deane laughs off Leeds United suggestion
Deane took to Twitter to suggest that Benitez could be the man for the job due to his vast experience in the game.
Benitez was linked with Leeds on Monday evening but it looks like he will lose out to compatriot Gracia.
One Leeds fan then asked Deane if he would fancy the challenge of taking over Leeds until the end of the season.
Deane laughed it off, suggesting that this particular ship sailed a long time ago and he wasn’t even thinking about putting himself forward.
Deane was born in Leeds but started his career with Doncaster Rovers.
After a spell at Sheffield United, Deane did finally join Leeds in 1993 and managed 37 goals in 168 games before heading back to Bramall Lane.
Spells with Benfica, Middlesbrough, Leicester City and West Ham United followed before Deane returned home to Leeds in 2004.
Deane retired in 2006, finishing his career back with Sheffield United again after joining Sunderland and Perth Glory.
A one-time England international, Deane turned to management with Norwegian side Sarpsborg 08 in 2012.
Deane had two years in that job but hasn’t returned to management since and with nearly nine years out of the game, the 55-year-old may think that his chances of management are over – never mind at a Premier League club like Leeds.
Deane will be cheering on Gracia and co moving forward though and hopefully we see him back in a dugout somewhere one day.
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