Can Leeds United succeed with a ‘Coach' instead of a Manager?

Article by e-Leeds United Correspondent Jeremy Taylor

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It’s the question that’s bubbled its way to the top of the long list of questions at Elland Road of late.

Cellino has made no attempt to disguise his preference of a coach to a manager since his arrival at Leeds, but only recently (since McDermott’s departure) has that fact sunk in with most Leeds fans.

When Cellino says he doesn’t need a manager, he means it. He wants a man that can wear a tracksuit, don a whistle around his neck and teach footballers how to play as a team, how to pass the ball to each other and create chances; all things that seemed beyond our previous manager.

He’ll handle the rest. But what does this actually mean?

Well, in almost any other league this approach wouldn’t even bear comment such is the popularity of the DoF (director of football) to coach structure of management. In fact, it’s actually the norm.

We have a different attitude in England and with good reason. Our greatest managers have all been hands-on, run everything from the balance sheet to the pre-match menu kind of men.

The likes of Ferguson, Shankly, Revie, Paisley, Clough and so on, were all control freaks. Megalomaniacs that ruled from top to bottom, refusing to tolerate even the slightest challenge to their authority. The aforementioned men all enjoyed great success and as such have conditioned football fans of Britain to assume this is the right way.

This belief has been further cemented by some truly abysmal attempts to adopt the European method in the Premier League.

Damien Commoli has left a trail of destruction and failure in his wake both at Liverpool and then Spurs.

Then came the comical attempts of Joe Kinnear to operate in the same capacity at Newcastle United.

It wasn’t all bad though. The more recent appointment of Txiki Begiristain at Manchester City has been a great success. He remit was to identify the needs of the squad and address them, with that particular case being a touchline-hugging winger and a strong but creative holding midfielder.

He went on to sign Jesus Navas and Fernandinho who both slotted in nicely and helped the team to the Premier league title. Job done, thanks for coming.

So, judging by these examples, the DoF is there to identify squad requirements and subsequently identify suitable players and then sign them.

But, Cellino has said he wants to do this himself, so what function would the DoF play at Leeds United?

Nicola Salerno is the name that Cellino wants apparently, his main man at Cagliari who is also wanted by Palermo in Sicily. Perhaps he is to act as a conduit between Cellino and the soon to be appointed coach of Leeds United. Perhaps he’s simply a trusted advisor, a number two.

Whatever happens, it really is a case of the proof being in the pudding.

Logic concludes that if the right people are in the right roles then the system can work well. All the cases where it’s failed have been in a scenario where a DoF has come in after a manager. This by it’s nature can only be seen as an undermining move by the club directors. Talk about getting off on the wrong foot. However, if the DoF is already in place and partially responsible for the appointment of his subordinate then surely the situation will be different?

If the management team strike the right working relationship with the coach and sign the right players then there, in theory, isn’t anything to prevent the coach doing his job well and building a successful team; a team that can win matches in the Championship and get promoted.

Of course there’s some big IF’s, but when isn’t there in football.

The simplest way to look at it is to say that everything comes down to which players are brought in, and on this front Leeds fans have every reason to feel confident.

Cellino’s track record at Cagliari is to sign players and sell them for a lot more, which suggests an ability to spot talent.

As he’s said himself though, the difference between Leeds United and Cagliari is that Leeds United has the propensity to become a top European club, one that doesn’t have to sell its best players, whereas Cagliari simply don’t. No matter what they do, they will never become a European giant so must resign themselves to the fact that their best players will always leave.

Perhaps the seemingly defiant stance on the sale of Ross McCormack is testament to the fact that Cellino see’s things differently at Leeds.

Putting that all into perspective, there really isn’t any reason to doubt that, should Leeds sign some real quality, we could go on to retain them once promoted.

One could liken this scenario to Southampton’s current circumstances.

Had they not seen the talented Pochettino cruelly taken from them this summer then they could well have kept hold of the likes of Shaw, Lallana and Rodriguez… all who now look destined to leave St Mary’s.

Still, the £60m+ those sales will raise will certainly help any incoming manager to give next season a go, and judging by some of the names being bandied around they just might.

Not bad for a club that were in league one five years ago.

I suppose the point there is that, selling your best players at the right time can be a very good thing for a football club. The key is to sell when it suits the club and not when it suits the footballer or their agent.

Back to Leeds United though and the next big step is the choice of coach.

Currently we’re looking at Leeds legend McAllister who could be in line for his second stint in charge, or the lesser-known Dolan from Reading who actually has a rather glowing CV when interrogated closely.

Ironically he comes across as a Brian McDermott mark II, having risen in almost identical fashion via Reading FC.

The only difference is that, should he come to Leeds United, he hopefully won’t feel the need to talk about his time at Reading constantly.

@jezaldinho

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