Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy has claimed that Javi Gracia's appointment at Leeds United "ticks a lot of boxes" despite Watford's decision to sack the Spaniard back in 2019.
The 52-year-old arrives at Elland Road on a flexible contract as the Whites finally replace Jesse Marsch following a frantic two-week search. A vast array of names were linked with the top job - some good, some bad - and now Gracia has been confirmed as the person entrusted with the club's top-flight status for the remainder of the season.
He will have 15 matches to move Leeds out of the relegation zone. Gracia takes over with his new side in 19th, a point above last-placed Southampton and two points from safety.
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Despite the former Watford coach being sacked by the Hornets over three years ago, Cundy has now revealed that he is confident the club have made the right choice with their new appointment.
“From memory, it did seem at the time a bit of a strange decision to get rid of him at the time when they did,” Cundy told talkSPORT regarding Watford’s decision to part company with Gracia in 2019.
“Leeds are desperate right now, they have to have a manager in place. Even though they got a result at [Old Trafford], the two subsequent games have not gone their way. So they needed a change of fortune and the typical relegation six-pointer is coming up this weekend against Southampton.
“It’s a game they can ill-afford to lose really, so I think the decision to bring a manager in now who wants the job, who has managed in the Premier League, who has got a team [Watford] in trouble out from the bottom of the table – it ticks a lot of boxes.”
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