Paco Gallardo has thanked Leeds United sporting director Victor Orta for giving him the opportunity to coach at Elland Road. The former Sevilla midfielder has been on quite the journey since being hired by Leeds in November as an academy development coach.
Gallardo, who also previously spent time as an assistant at his hometown club, spent three months working quietly behind the scenes in the role before the sacking of Jesse Marsch led to him being asked to step up to the first-team. He was one of three men to take the reins while the club looked for a new head coach, alongside Michael Skubala and Chris Armas.
The trio helped Leeds to a draw at Old Trafford, but they were unable to prevent losses coming in the return fixture against Manchester United on home soil and at Everton before the decision was made to appoint Gallardo’s compatriot Javi Gracia. Gracia’s arrival at the club resulted in a reshuffle of the coaching team and after Skubala was asked to stay within the senior ranks, Gallardo was handed the U21s’ head coach role on a permanent basis.
