David Hockaday wanted a host of defensive options at Leeds United.
Former Leeds United boss David Hockaday has been speaking to The Guardian about his time at Elland Road, and some of the transfers he missed out on.
Hockaday was the surprise choice to become Leeds manager back in the summer of 2014, with his only prior managerial experience coming in a four-year spell at Forest Green Rovers in non-league.
Hockaday lasted just a matter of weeks in the job after two wins and four defeats, meeting the infamous axe of Massimo Cellino.
The 61-year-old has discussed his time with the club, and feels that his chances of success weren’t exactly helped by Cellino’s transfer policy.
Hockaday has revealed in the Guardian’s report that he wanted a host of players, including Virgil van Dijk, Conor Coady, Craig Cathcart and Mark Hudson, but was told no by Cellino to all of them.
Instead, in came Giuseppe Bellusci to strengthen the defence, whilst Tommaso Bianchi and Casper Sloth arrived instead of then-Liverpool talent Coady.
Of course, Van Dijk is the big one here. The Dutchman is arguably the Premier League’s finest centre back now, with Liverpool paying £75million (The Guardian) for him just over a year ago. Whether Leeds would have signed from Celtic is another matter though, just a year before his move to Southampton.
Coady and Cathcart are featuring regularly in the Premier League for Wolves and Watford respectively, whilst Hudson is still in the top flight but as a coach for Huddersfield Town. Back in 2014, they could have been impressive signings for Leeds, but Cellino went elsewhere – and Hockaday is left to wonder what could have been.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
