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.
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With the help of Michal Pujdak, Gallardo has led the youth side to three Premier League 2 Division 2 wins so far and that has been enough to push the Whites to the brink of promotion back to the top tier.
Speaking to Spanish news outlet Mucho Deporte, Gallardo has opened up on how his switch to West Yorkshire came about and his gratitude to Orta: "It was a satisfaction when I received the call from Victor to join Leeds United.
"Because of working with one of the best sports directors in the world and because Leeds are an impressive club for many things, also for how their fans live on a day-to-day basis. I am eternally grateful to him for his call, for giving me this opportunity. Also, to the people of the club for how easy my adaptation has been.
“I am discreet, I do not have news networks, I have barely given an interview since I left Sevilla. Of course, I’m glad the people who love me have remembered me.”
On his stint in the senior set-up following Marsch's dismissal, he added: “From there a series of events took place and I didn’t think at all that I could be sitting on the bench at Old Trafford to face Manchester United. It is something that I did not expect and of course I am happy for the experience and for having done my bit for the good of the team.
“Living a match in the Premier League is nothing like living it in Spain. It’s something very different, everything happens faster. Now I am the coach of the Under-21s, a team whose goal is promotion to the first division.”
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