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Andrea Radrizzani names two managers Leeds United tried to hire after sacking Jesse Marsch — Leeds United News 12/10/25

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Will Butcher The final season of Andrea Radrizzani’s tenure as Leeds United was a mess. The Italian had publicly spoken of his dreams to reach Europe, but in February 2021, he decided to sack Marcelo Bielsa. From that point on, he could not have got much more wrong. The hiring of Jesse Marsch proved to be a catastrophically bad decision and by the time Leeds plucked up the courage to sack him, it was too late. A three-game interim period under Michael Skubala did not help proceedings either, and that was not because of Skubala. Any incoming manager felt there was not enough time to turn the tide at Leeds. Eventually, Leeds had to settle with the hiring of Javi Gracia, and after a good start the inevitable became reality. A 5-1 loss at Elland Road against Crystal Palace led Leeds to Sam Allardyce, and then relegation. Andrea Radrizzani claims Leeds could have hired Unai Emery After Marsch’s sacking, Leeds pushed hard for now-Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola and Liverpool bo...
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Javi Gracia pinpoints the exact moment that cost him his job at Leeds United — Leeds United News 12/10/25

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Robert McHugh Former Leeds United manager Javi Gracia has opened up on his departure from Leeds United after accepting his first job since leaving the club. Javi Gracia was parachuted in to attempt to save Leeds from relegation in the 2022/23 season after Jesse Marsch left his role as head coach. Despite a promising start to life with Leeds in the Premier League, the wheels came off spectacularly under Gracia, culminating in a 4-1 defeat away at Bournemouth, which saw him leave the club before the end of the season. Leeds sent an SOS to Sam Allardyce, who oversaw the Whites’ eventual relegation, but it remains a mystery as to why things came apart so quickly under Gracia. Now, the former Leeds boss has revealed the moment that he believes cost him his job with the club, three years on from his departure. Javi Gracia opens up on his Leeds United exit Gracia is now back in management, after accepting an offer to return to Watford in the Championship, having guided them to a...
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Football Regulator Exclusive: David Kogan on saving football from rogue owners and vested interests — Yorkshire Post 11/10/25

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by Stuart Rayner English football's first regulator, David Kogan, says his new powers are being accelerated to allow him to deal with the "absolutely critical topic" of Dejphon Chansiri’s mismanagement of Sheffield Wednesday. That Kogan chose The Yorkshire Post for his first print interview in the job perhaps highlights the importance he places on resolving the mess at Hillsborough, an issue he says goes way beyond the boundaries of the Championship club's home city. And although he cannot take a public stance on the Thai businessman before an investigation has taken place and will not put timescales on the process, the newly-formed Independent Football Regulator (IFR) he was only confirmed as chairman of on Monday is trying to speed it up as much as possible. "I am really aware Sheffield Wednesday isn't just a problem in terms of Sheffield," said Kogan, whose appointment was endorsed by a select committee in May despite concerns in some quarters a...
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Leeds United hero makes ‘unique’ gesture for Howard Wilkinson statue campaign — Leeds Live 10/10/25

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He is far from the first Leeds United icon to get involved with the project Former Leeds United title winner David Batty is the latest club hero to show his support for the campaign pushing for a Howard Wilkinson statue to be installed at Elland Road. The ex-England midfielder played 289 games for Leeds across two spells, with 166 of them coming under Wilkinson. Batty played in all but two league matches in the glorious 1991/92 season which saw Leeds lift the First Division title. Wilkinson remains the last English manager to win the top-flight. Campaign group 'Wilko92' is aiming to get a statue for the club icon chiselled and installed at Elland Road. The club itself has shown its support for the initiative. Speaking to Leeds Live upon its launch in June, Wilkinson described being "embarrassed" and “honoured” when first learning of the campaign. “It also makes me realise that what I did is considered my job, but I never worked a day in my life.” Around £140...
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Leeds United cult hero David Batty signs on for fundraising campaign despite 'boring' headlines — YEP 10/10/25

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By Graham Smyth Leeds United cult hero and mystery man David Batty has added his signature to a campaign to recognise the achievements of his former boss. Unlike a great number of his peers and Elland Road alumni, Batty has not stuck around for the after-dinner circuit or media side of the game since he quit playing. Instead, Batty is enjoying a quiet retirement away from the spotlight. Yet despite causing headlines with his autobiography's description of old boss Howard Wilkinson as 'boring' the former midfielder has lent his signature to a campaign to build a statue for the First Division title-winning manager. WILKO92 is a supporter-led fundraising effort aimed at paying tribute to Wilkinson for his contribution to the club's history and the legacy he helped create with the Thorp Arch academy. The campaign website states they want to raise £140,000 to create a 'life-size statue of Howard Wilkinson in Leeds as a permanent tribute to the man who delivered Lee...
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'Utter madness' — Graham Smyth gives Dominic Calvert-Lewin Leeds United verdict — YEP 9/10/25

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By CJ Smith Questions are being raised regarding Dominic Calvert-Lewin's place in the Leeds United team. Leeds United face a ‘conundrum’ when it comes to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s place in the starting line-up. That’s according to the Yorkshire Evening Post’s own Graham Smyth, who has analysed the striker’s performances in the wake of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur. The Whites went down at Elland Road thanks to goals from Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus, either side of Noah Okafor’s equaliser in the 34th minute. However, Leeds did more than enough to earn a result on the day, outshooting the Europa League winners 16-9 to the tune of 1.68 to 0.53 expected goals (FotMob). Leeds missed four big chances throughout the match, with Calvert-Lewin particularly guilty, passing up good opportunities in both halves. Should Joel Piroe replace Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Leeds United? Only Erling Haaland (6) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (7) have missed more big chances than ...
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'If you want to be a Premier League player' — Graham Smyth highlights major Leeds United 'concern' — YEP 9/10/25

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By CJ Smith Leeds United went down 2-1 at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, and Pascal Struijk has been singled out for criticism. Pascal Struijk must learn to better deal with balls behind the Leeds United defence if he’s to establish himself as a Premier League defender. That’s the view of our very own Graham Smyth, who was assessing the Dutchman’s role in Tottenham’s first goal in the 2-1 defeat at Elland Road on Saturday. Mathys Tel opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, latching onto a pass from Mohammed Kudus and firing a deflected shot beyond Karl Darlow. And Smyth has highlighted a lack of recovery pace from Struijk as a cause for concern not just in this instance, but also for his wider ability to compete with the frenetic pace of the Premier League. Major Pascal Struijk ‘concern’ highlighted following Spurs defeat "I just feel like he couldn't do enough to stop it,” Smyth said of Struijk on the Inside Elland Road podcast. He added: "Sometime...
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