Aitor Karanka is the favourite to replace Garry Monk as Leeds boss.
Ex-Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka
Leeds United were left stunned on Thursday afternoon as manager Garry Monk resigned from his position – and Aitor Karanka is the early favourite.
The Whites landed Monk as their new manager last summer following Steve Evans’ departure from Elland Road, handing the 38-year-old a route back into management having lost his job with Swansea in December 2015.
Former Leeds boss Gary Monk
Monk almost took Leeds into the Championship play-offs, but a late collapse saw them finish seventh, and whilst Leeds had hoped to activate a one-year option on Monk’s contract, he handed in his resignation on Thursday.
That leaves Leeds looking for yet another new manager, and new owner Andrea Radrizzani will be charged with the task of finding Monk’s replacement, with Aitor Karanka the hot early favourite.
Aitor Karanka
Not only do bookmakers currently have Karanka leading the way, but the Daily Mail report that the Spaniard is expected to be appointed at Elland Road along with former Middlesbrough director Victor Orta.
Karanka, 43, has been out of work since March having lost his job as Middlesbrough boss, but whilst he struggled in the Premier League, his record in the Championship is impressive; he took Boro to the play-off final in 2015, before winning automatic promotion in 2016.
Aitor Karanka
Fans have been taking to Twitter to react to the news that Karanka could replace, with many suggesting that they would be happy with his appointment due to his record in the Championship, pointing to statistics from Middlesbrough’s promotion campaign.
Others aren’t quite so enamoured though, believing that Karanka is ‘boring’ and plays a negative brand of football, with one fan even claiming he wouldn’t buy a season ticket if the Spaniard is appointed.
Would you like to see Karanka become Leeds boss?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
