Interest from Leeds United in Andoni Iraola becoming their new head coach pleased the Basque, but it remains to be seen if he gets the chance again at Elland Road. Iraola became Victor Orta’s number-one target when Jesse Marsch was sacked in early February, but Rayo Vallecano, his current employer, ultimately blocked the switch.
Vallecano have been one of the stories of the past couple of years in Spain and at the point Leeds were sniffing around Iraola they had lost just two of their previous 12 La Liga outings. The Madrid outfit were in the upper echelons of the league, but have since fallen down the table.
There remains an outside shot at European qualification, but since United’s interest became known, Iraola has overseen just three wins in 14 matches. The 40-year-old has spoken to Sky Sports about the Elland Road angle this season.
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"I was really pleased that they thought of me as an option to coach there," he said. "I talked to Rayo Vallecano, who obviously were the ones who had to make the decision, and I understood also Rayo wanted to continue with me."
The Whites have subsequently hired and fired Javi Gracia before landing on Sam Allardyce for the final four games of the season. They have also parted ways with Orta, the man who originally put Iraola on the table as an option.
It remains to be seen whether Leeds return to Spain for Iraola, as they originally considered after February’s rejection, or even if they have the league status and decision-makers in place to pursue that route.
"You cannot think in things that could have happened," said Iraola. "It was what it was.
"It was a very open decision. We talked to the club and Leeds were also very open with Rayo Vallecano. We talked for one day, 'OK, it's not the moment, it's over.' It is nothing more than that.
"I am very pleased they thought of me as an option, but I am also very happy here working for Rayo Vallecano. I hope they finish the season well, but right now we are doing well, so we are not thinking too much about that."
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