Academy-produced talent has long been one of Leeds United’s calling cards. Thorp Arch’s factory line has continued to churn out professional footballers, while the recruitment drive for other clubs’ best young talent has taken that youth-centred approach to the next level.
The gatekeeper of those final few stages of development before the first team has an immensely important role at Thorp Arch. United’s under-23 head coach, soon to be under-21 boss, has been the bridge between the academy and the first team.
After years of developing a homegrown talent or hundreds of thousands of pounds have been put into a promising youngster, it is the under-21 coach’s job to polish that diamond and iron out the final few kinks. It is a critical role in ensuring that strategy comes to fruition in the first XI.
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If Leeds are to benefit from the millions they pump into academy coaching or from the investment they make in buying players before their value skyrockets, the under-21 chief must see that player’s journey over the line. This summer, like in so many departments at Leeds, offers a new start in that role.
Under Jesse Marsch, we will see a fresh approach to how that under-21 team and manager liaise with the senior side. With Andrew Taylor returning to his loans manager post, we will see a fresh face with fresh ideas.
Under Marcelo Bielsa, we saw Carlos Corberan and Mark Jackson play their parts at the head of an under-23 side which was barely separated from the first team. The Argentine would frequently put the senior and youth sides in training together.
This meant the likes of Charlie Cresswell, Leo Hjelde and Lewis Bate were ready to step into the first team at short notice. Bielsa saw great merit in ensuring the under-23s were already closely aligned with their senior counterparts and their tactical plans.
Marsch has already made it clear there will be a more definitive line between the first team and the under-21s. Whoever takes on that role next season will be tasked with a new brief and a new vision for youth development under this head coach.
There is the small matter of promotion too. After relegation to Premier League 2 Division Two, the new boss will be expected to not only develop the next generation, but be competitive and repeat Jackson's feat of 2021.
It remains to be seen who that will be, but it’s understood the club has the appointment in hand and knows who will take on that role. It’s one of several backroom confirmations still to be made by United.
When Marsch’s backroom team was announced in March it was with a view until the end of the season. Franky Schiemer has been spotted coaching in pre-season already, but there has been nothing official as yet on who will be on Marsch’s staff for 2022/23.
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