Sam Allardyce, a former England manager, has been hired by Leeds United to keep them in the Premier League after the club fired manager Javi Gracia. Spanish manager Gracia was only in command at Elland Road for 10 weeks and 12 games until he was fired.
On Saturday, Allardyce’s debut game in charge will be against league leaders Manchester City. With four games left, Allardyce, 68, must guide 17th-placed Leeds, who are only one goal ahead of the relegation zone, to safety.
“I was surprised. At this point in the season, I never imagined this would happen. I thought there wouldn’t be any more work,” Allardyce said. “We still have four games left, and maybe I can help to keep this fantastic club in the Premier League.”
Victor Orta, the club’s director of football, also departed the club on Tuesday by mutual consent after disagreeing with the board on Gracia’s position.
Sunday’s 4-1 loss at Bournemouth was the 53-year-old Gracia’s last game in command.
It was the team’s most recent crushing loss under the former Watford manager, following recent thrashings by Liverpool, Crystal Palace, and Arsenal of 6-1, 5-1, and 4-1, respectively.
Additionally, it meant that the Whites’ winless streak since a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on April 4 extended to a fifth game, which included four losses.
Sunday’s 4-1 loss at Bournemouth was the 53-year-old Gracia’s last game in command. It was the team’s most recent crushing loss under the former Watford manager, following recent thrashings by Liverpool, Crystal Palace, and Arsenal of 6-1, 5-1, and 4-1, respectively.
