Leeds United are interested in appointing Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino as their new manager and have already made an approach.
TNT Sports in Argentina report that Leeds have contacted Martino to gauge his interest in a move to Elland Road.
Leeds sacked Jesse Marsch last week and have yet to find a replacement; in fact, Marsch looks set to land a new job before he’s even replaced as a move to Southampton seems imminent.
A number of Leeds targets have fallen by the wayside, from Carlos Corberan to Alfred Schreuder as well as Andoni Iraola and Arne Slot.
Leeds are now turning towards Martino, who hasn’t ruled out a move to Yorkshire but would ideally prefer to take a new team in the summer after a stint in charge of the Mexico national team.
Valencia are also keen on Martino, who now has plenty to think about with interest mounting out of nowhere.
Marcelo Bielsa loves Leeds United target Gerardo Martino
Martino has a connection to Leeds United – and it comes through Marcelo Bielsa.
Martino was a key player for Newell’s Old Boys during Bielsa’s time in charge there.
The 60-year-old ended up becoming a manager just like Bielsa and managed both Newell’s and Barcelona just like his mentor.
As quoted by The Guardian, Leeds legend Bielsa admitted that he loved Martino during their time together.
Bielsa called Martino an ‘exceptional’ player and a real leader during his playing days before seeing him move into management.
Martino takes some inspiration from Bielsa’s approach but certainly isn’t as gung-ho as ‘El Loco’.
The interest in Martino continues the trend of Leeds looking at managers who played under Bielsa.
Iraola and Marcelo Gallardo fit that bill and now it’s Martino, a man Bielsa absolutely loved when they were together.
That may count for something as Leeds hope to tempt the Argentinian boss into a move to Elland Road.
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