The Great Elland Road Stakes! Andoni Iraola leads the race to be the new Leeds United manager after Carlos Corberan pulls up, with Feyenoord boss Arne Slot emerging as a contender
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Leeds United are in negotiations with Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola after Carlos Corberan rejected the chance to become their new manager.
Director of football Victor Orta was understood to be in Madrid on Tuesday evening as part of a Leeds delegation hoping to persuade Iraola to succeed Jesse Marsch. The move came after Corberan opted to stay at West Bromwich and sign a new long-term contract.
Leeds are continuing to assess other options, too, with the Iraola talks said to be in the balance on Tuesday night. Feyenoord’s Arne Slot also proposed to the club on Tuesday and was installed as the bookies’ favourite.
Corberan was favoured by many at Leeds including owner Andrea Radrizzani but they only proposed an 18-month deal to him. West Bromwich made it clear to Corberan that they wanted him to oversee a long-term plan resulting in promotion to the top flight.
Albion confirmed in a statement: ‘We are delighted Carlos Corberan has signed a contract extension which will see him remain at the Hawthorns until 2027.’
Corberan said: ‘The way I have been made to feel welcome at this great club has made me confident this is the right place for me.’ Radrizzani had suggested that an appointment at Leeds was close on Tuesday night when he wrote on Twitter: ‘We are on it. Hopefully white smoke by tonight or tomorrow morning.’
Meanwhile, Orta travelled to Madrid having been at the club’s Thorp Arch training ground earlier in the day to update players on the latest developments.
His target, former Spain international Iraola, has led Rayo Vallecano to fifth in La Liga and draws his coaching inspiration from former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, who he played under at Athletic Bilbao.
The 40-year-old sidestepped questions about a possible move to Elland Road following Rayo’s 2-0 win over Almeria on Monday night.
‘Football belongs to the footballers, we are not that important,’ said Iraola. ‘The players make us look better. They are the ones who are achieving this.’
Orta is also understood to have sounded out Spain and Real…