Leeds target Javi Gracia, who guided Watford to Premier League ...
Former Watford boss Javi Gracia is a contender for the Leeds job, talkSPORT understands.
Leeds, who lost at relegation rivals Everton on Saturday, have been without a head coach since sacking Jesse Marsch on February 6.
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Now, it’s understood the Yorkshire side are interested in appointing Gracia, who has been without a club since leaving Qatari outfit Al Sadd last year.
The 52-year-old Spaniard won 25 of his 66 games in charge of Watford during his 20 months at Vicarage Road.
He also led them to the FA Cup final where they lost 6-0 to Manchester City, as well as helping to steer them away from relegation – and the latter experience is exactly what Leeds will be looking for.
However, after avoiding the drop zone in 2018/19, Gracia was sacked by the club just one month into the following season, leaving his side bottom of the Premier League with just one point from their first four league matches.
After his spell with the Hornets, the Spaniard – who played for Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad – went on to manage Valencia, but was dismissed less than a year after his return to LaLiga.
He then took over from his compatriot, now-Barcelona boss Xavi, at Al Sadd in December 2021 but left in June last year.
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The Whites were linked with West Brom’s Carlos Corberan, Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola and Feyenoord boss Arne Slot, but none of those potential appointments materialised.
Following their 1-0 loss to Everton on Saturday, Leeds sit second from bottom in the Premier League, two points from safety and at risk of returning to the Championship following their promotion in 2020.
Marsch had been in charge of the Whites since February 2022 and steered them away from relegation last season, but was sacked having won only four of their 20 league matches this term.
