The timing could not have been more brutal for Javi Gracia.
On Monday, the Spaniard was sacked from his short and ill-fated stint as Leeds United manager. Having replaced Jesse Marsch in February, his tenure lasted just 10 weeks and 12 matches, only three of which yielded wins to leave the Elland Road club perilously close to the relegation places.
Sam Allardyce will take over with Leeds 17th in the table, outside of the bottom three on goal difference alone and with four difficult Premier League fixtures to play. Hindsight will soon conclude whether Andrea Radrizzani's gamble proved a shrewd move from the owner, or a doomed throw of the dice that was prompted by panic.
But it wasn't just the football related timing that Gracia has found hard to stomach. The call from Radrizzani came on the same day that the former Watford boss turned 53: “It was my birthday, May 1,” he told The Athletic. “It was a phone call.”
However, it was very unlikely that by that point, Gracia was happily tucking into birthday cake and dancing around balloons. The 24 hours leading up to the call had proved harrowing, with his side hammered 4-1 at Bournemouth before players and coaches came under fire after video footage emerged of them ignoring young fans at the team hotel.
And Gracia explained that the matter was handled respectfully by Radrizzani: “It was a call to explain the situation. It was all handled correctly by the club. I have to accept the decision from the club’s owner and that’s it.”
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Refusing to show a hint of bitterness, Gracia vowed to watch Allardyce's first game in charge this Saturday, the unenviable task of a trip to Man City. And he also defended his former players amid accusations they lacked the stomach for the relegation fight, while the Athletic have reported that Gracia delivered a farewell speech that left some players in tears.
"In my experience with the players, 100%, are feeling the club and applying maximum effort," he added. "It is difficult to find a squad with such a feeling of belonging. This desire to achieve an objective, a collectible mindset....."
Gracia also reserved praise for the Leeds fan base, who he said "are very loyal and love their team." He even insists his own children will remain supporters, but it is no longer their father in the firing line ahead of a four week period which will prove pivotal to the short-term future of the club.
