Before the club decided to hire Javi Gracia in February 2023, there were many managers linked to Leeds United, one of whom has just left his position despite a record-breaking season.

Liverpool’s Arne Slote and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola have been strongly linked with Leeds. But in the end the Whites could not lure any interesting manager to Elland Road as Leeds were close to relegation.

Javi Gracia arrived after three mid-season games under Michael Skubala and the Spaniard initially turned things around, before Crystal Palace were eliminated 5-1 by beleaguered Leeds, who were eventually relegated.

Since then Daniel Farke has been appointed to try and lead Leeds back to the Premier League and on the second occasion Leeds are in the relegation play-offs. However, there is now another manager who has been linked with 2023.

Tata Martino leaves Inter Miami 18 months after joining Leeds
It was always a bit ambitious, but Leeds approached Tata Martino after the sacking of Jesse Marsch. The former Barcelona and Argentina boss was seen as a possible return to glory for Marcelo Bielsa.

Martino was out of a job at the time, having left as Mexico boss in 2022. But after Leeds’ rejection, Martino took over at Inter Miami, the MLS club co-owned by none other than David Beckham.

Martino led the team, which featured Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, to a record 74-point season in MLS, but lost early in the MLS play-offs to Martino’s old club Atlanta.

What Marcelo Bielsa has said about Tati Martin in the past
This is purely hypothetical, but Martino is a manager who has had to be managed at the very highest level of the sport. Of course, it is not the first time he has been Messi’s manager either, as he also worked at Barcelona.

It is not far-fetched to believe that if Martino had been appointed, he would have immediately gained the respect of the Leeds squad in the 2022-23 season and security may have been achieved in the summer.

But instead Martino has been ignored by Leeds, a manager who Marcelo Bielsa once said in an interview with The Guardian was “exceptional” as a player. As far as Leeds are concerned, there are few better sources of praise.

Tuesday was a monumental night in the career of Leeds United defender Joe Rodon.

Rodon was awarded his 50th international captaincy for Wales and marked it with an impressive 4-1 win over Iceland to help the team top Group B4 of the Nations League and win promotion to League A.

Leeds defender was the talk of the town ahead of the game, with his Elland Road teammate Dan James already predicted to score his 100th point.

Wales boss Craig Bellamy also heaped praise on Rodon, hinting that he always knew he would become a “top player” even in difficult times at Tottenham.

Rodon should return to Leeds full of confidence after this latest milestone and another successful international break.