Jesse Marsch coined the term 'leadership council' in one of his first press conferences as Leeds United head coach. The American appointed seven first-team players to the group: Liam Cooper, Luke Ayling, Stuart Dallas, Adam Forshaw, Patrick Bamford, Kalvin Phillips and Rodrigo Moreno.
The youngest member is Phillips at 26, while the oldest is Rodrigo at 31. All seven could be considered players in their 'peak years' as professional footballers. It is little surprise to see the club captain named amongst a select group dubbed dressing room leaders, however the manner in which Marsch navigates his latest team selection dilemma will be interesting.
Whether he calls on the advice and support of the leadership council, or shares his musings exclusively with his coaching staff will be of particular interest, considering the dilemma affects a key member of the leadership group: Liam Cooper. This season, the well-respected captain has only featured in 15 league matches, blighted by a hamstring injury suffered in early December.
