Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood has warned Javi Gracia that even though he believes the Spaniard is a "good fit" at Leeds United, he has not managed a football club as big as the Whites before.
More than two weeks had passed since Leeds parted company with Jesse Marsch following a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. A handful of coaches had since been linked with the top job at Elland Road, but Gracia was eventually confirmed as the new head coach on Tuesday afternoon.
The 52-year-old has Premier League experience and managed Watford to an 11th-placed top-flight finish in his first season in charge of the Hornets. In fact, Gracia also led them to an FA Cup final in 2019 - and although they would lose 6-0 to Manchester City in the final - the Hornets did superbly to even make it to Wembley.
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Sherwood has now praised Gracia for the work he did at Vicarage Road, but warned the new Leeds boss that managing at Elland Road will be unlike anything he has experienced before.
“He’s done a good job, he knows the Premier League. Anyone who lasts that long at Watford is obviously a decent enough manager,” Sherwood told Sky Sports' Soccer Special when asked about Gracia's appointment at Leeds.
“He kept them [Watford] in the Premier League against the odds, took them to a cup final. So I think he’s a good fit. I really do, but only time will tell.
“It’s a huge football club. It’s a lot bigger than what he’s been used to previously. And he’ll soon find that out. But hopefully he can get them playing in the right way, on the front foot and use that huge, fantastic fanbase up there of Leeds as the 12th man.”
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