How Leeds United managers have fared in first matches…

How Leeds United managers have fared in first matches ahead of Javi Gracia debut

Leeds United have decided that Javi Gracia is the man to lead their charge against relegation from the Premier League for the remainder of the season.

Jesse Marsch's dismissal saw a frantic two-week search commence before Gracia was eventually confirmed as the club's new head coach earlier this week. He now has an anxious wait to see if his work permit will be approved in time for Saturday's game against Southampton.

The Spaniard has been presented with a vital clash straight away as he looks to get off to a winning start and move the Whites away from the foot of the table. Over the last six-years, five managers have come and gone before Gracia to take charge of their first competitive game for the club.

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Ahead of what could be Gracia's first official game as Leeds manager, we have taken a look back over how the club's last five managers have fared in their own respective curtain-raisers.

Garry Monk

Aside from Marcelo Bielsa, only one other manager has taken charge of more matches for the Whites than Garry Monk in the past decade.

Now without a club, Monk's first game for Leeds got off to the worst possible start as he took charge of a 3-0 defeat to QPR in the Championship in August 2016, with his side failing to register a single shot on target during the match.

Thomas Christiansen

A thrilling 3-2 win over Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the 2017/18 season kicked things off for Christiansen in the first of 33 games as Leeds head coach. A brace from Kalvin Phillips and another from Chris Wood meant the Dane opened his managerial account in style.

Things would eventually unravel for Christiansen in the second-half of the season as a seven-match winless run saw his time at the club called to an end with a 4-1 defeat to Cardiff City.

Paul Heckingbottom

Heckingbottom's first game as Leeds boss ironically came against the club he currently takes charge of now. A 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United in 2018 was the first of eight defeats that he would suffer as Leeds boss during a 16-game spell.

Goals from Billy Sharp either side of half-time prevented Pierre-Michel Lasogga's 47th minute powerful header from having any bearing on the result for the Whites.

Marcelo Bielsa

The legendary Argentine got off to the perfect start as Whites boss, beating Stoke City 3-1 in the Championship at Elland Road in August 2018.

Mateusz Klich, Pablo Hernandez and Liam Cooper all found the back of the net to ensure that Leeds, who were starting the season with a new boss for the eighth successive year, gave fans a glimpse of the fast-paced football that was to be on display during Bielsa's time at the club.

Jesse Marsch

The American spent just under 12 months in charge at Leeds, with a winless run stretching back to November eventually seeing him relieved of his duties as head coach.

Marsch did not have the best start to life as Leeds manager as his first time in charge of a Premier League game saw them lose 1-0 to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium in March last year. Despite the Whites having 19 shots in the match, Harvey Barnes' 67th minute strike made all the difference.