Guillem Balague has hailed Javi Gracia as he offers his verdict on Leeds United’s move to appoint the former Watford boss.
Leeds have confirmed the appointment of Gracia this afternoon, handing him a ‘flexible’ contract at Elland Road.
Reports of Leeds targeting Gracia first emerged on Monday as Fabrizio Romano reported that talks were underway.
The deal has moved quickly and Gracia has been confirmed as Leeds boss, replacing Jesse Marsch some two weeks after his sacking.
Gracia returns for a second shot at Premier League management having previously had a spell in charge of Watford.
Most recently with Qatari side Al Sadd – where he won the league title – Gracia must now try to keep Leeds in the Premier League.
That’s a tough challenge but Leeds believe Gracia’s history with Watford can help avoid relegation to the Championship.
Guillem Balague delivers verdict on new Leeds United boss Javi Gracia
Leeds fans are now trying to find out as much as possible about Gracia.
The Spaniard’s time in Watford was fairly brief at just over 18 months, although that’s a lifetime for a Watford manager.
Gracia kept the club in the top flight for two years in a row and reached an FA Cup final, so his time at Vicarage Road was pretty decent.
The best source of information will be Spanish football experts given Gracia’s status in his homeland.
A defensive midfield in his playing days, Gracia turned out for Bilbao Athletic, Lleida, Real Valladolid, Real Sociedad, Villarreal and Cordoba.
Gracia has a long list of Spanish clubs he has managed too; Pontevedra, Cadiz, Villarreal B, Almeria, Osasuna, Malaga and Valencia.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has now told BBC Sport that he thinks Gracia is a really adaptable manager who can easily switch tactics from defending to attacking.
Balague praised the way Gracia builds relationships with his players and also his ability to read and make changes during games whilst highlighting that he can change from quiet to loud when needed.
“Javi Gracia is a manager that doesn’t have just one style, he adapts to the types of players he has,” said Balague. “That is why he will work very well for Watford or Leeds. Because if they have to become more defensive, he will be able to adjust that, if they need more goals, he will also be able to do it in training.”
“I have been to see him a few times in old jobs and he develops a very close relationship with players, he was a player himself at the top level and he knows what is required. He is quiet when has to be, raises his voice when he has to. He convinces players by working with them, not by imposing his personality. He reads a game very well especially during games – he is a great reader of games,” he added.
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