Pep Clotet is favourite to become Leeds United’s next manager – but should he be?
According to Sky Bet, Pep Clotet is 11/8 favourite to be named as Leeds United’s next manager.
It might only be the bookies, but there is substance to the speculation when you consider reports that recently-departed Leeds boss Garry Monk will bring United’s first-team coach James Beattie with him to Middlesbrough if he gets the job – according to The Sun.
Clotet was Monk’s assistant at Elland Road and Swansea City previously, so if Clotet does not join him at the Riverside then it might suggest that the Spaniard is set to sit in the hot seat in Yorkshire.
But would replacing Monk with the 40-year-old represent a backwards step for Leeds?
So far Clotet has had a modest managerial career to date, with shortlived spells in charge of Malaga’s B side and Halmstad, where his side were relegated to the second tier of Swedish football.
Given that Claudio Ranieri and Aitor Karanka are also in the reckoning (Sky Bet), his CV does not measure up and although Leeds fans will argue that Monk himself had no experience before earning and impressing in the Swansea job, the 38-year-old had a 19-year playing career at his back. Clotet never played professionally.
He has an advantage in the sense that he has established a rapport with this squad over the past 12 months, watching them in training every day, but the fact is that Leeds are a club still wounded from missing out on the playoffs and new owner Andrea Radrizzani needs to appoint someone who can help them kick on.
Despite Monk’s departure, the feeling is that Leeds remain very much a club on the up, but they need to be very confident that Clotet can build on the foundations laid by his friend or the club might be back at square one.
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