Leeds United considering Javi Gracia appointment?

Javi Gracia has reportedly emerged as a candidate to become the new head coach of Leeds United.

When the Yorkshire giants parted company with Jesse Marsch earlier this month, they were expected to appoint a replacement within days.

However, the Premier League outfit have failed with a number of approaches, with Carlos Corberan remaining at West Bromwich Albion, Rayo Vallecano keeping hold of Andoni Iraola and former Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder turning down the opportunity.

As it stands, Under-21s coach Michael Skubala is in interim charge, but Leeds have only accumulated one point from three games.

With bottom-of-the-table Southampton the visitors to Elland Road on Saturday, club officials have a decision to make ahead of arguably the biggest fixture of their season.

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Despite talk of Skubala potentially retaining the role for the remainder of the season, it appears that a shock name has entered the race for the permanent position in the dugout.

According to the Daily Mail, Leeds are open to appointing Gracia on a short-term contract.

The Spaniard is no stranger to English football having managed Watford between January 2018 and September 2019, a 66-match stint which makes him one of the Hornets' longest-serving bosses over the past decade.

Gracia is also generally regarded as one of the club's best managers in recent times having guided Watford to the FA Cup final and secured 14th and 11th-placed finishes in the Premier League.

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A slow start to 2019-20 led to his departure, yet the 52-year-old's stint at Vicarage Road was followed by a season at Spanish giants Valencia.

More recently, Gracia replaced Xavi as the manager of Al-Sadd, leaving in June 2022 after winning 16 of his 22 matches in charge and the club retaining their Qatar Stars League title.

The report adds that Gracia is well known to director of football Victor Orta, potentially an important factor as Leeds attempt to conclude a lengthening managerial saga.

Leeds currently sit in 19th position in the Premier League standings, two points adrift of safety.