Thankfully, the Sam Allardyce era at Leeds United feels like a distant past.
Former owner Andrea Radrizzani brought in Allardyce for the final four matches of the season nearly a year ago, in a last-ditch effort to avoid relegation.
The 69-year-old was the fourth manager at Leeds last season, in one of the most miserable campaigns at Elland Road since Massimo Cellino’s tenure.
When Allardyce arrived in Leeds, he took two assistant coaches with him. One was former MK Dons and Oxford United manager Karl Robinson, while the other was ex-Whites striker Robbie Keane.
Robinson has never progressed above League One in his career, but he has had some good spells in the third tier and was maybe unlucky not to have gained promotion with Oxford.
However, the recruitment of that coaching trio was plainly a panicked decision given to Leeds’ situation.
Allardyce encouraged Plymouth to hire Robinson, a former Leeds assistant who just took over Salford City in League Two.
However, Allardyce clearly thinks far more highly of Robinson than many others in the game, and he stated on the most recent episode of his ‘No Tippy Tappy’ Podcast that he is perplexed that the 43-year-old has never achieved higher.
In fact, he went one step further earlier this season, telling Plymouth Argyle to hire him following Steven Schumacher’s departure to Stoke City.
Argyle evidently ignored that advise when they hired Ian Foster, but perhaps they should have listened, given the rising calls for him to be fired.
He stated, “I spoke with Trevor, the director at Plymouth, and asked him to tell your owner to sign Karl Robinson. This man’s record and talent have always earned him a spot in the Championship, if not higher. Trevor could just endorse him, and I don’t think they interviewed him.”
Robinson backed Leeds for immediate return to PL after relegation
Clearly the opportunity to come to Leeds in any capacity was massive for Robinson, and it is fair to say he has spoken about the club in a good light ever since. He predicted at the start of the season that Leeds would be strong enough to secure an immediate return to the Premier League, and as it stands, they are on course to do so. Speaking in August, he said: “They should do, the transfer window is massive. Patrick was a catalyst in promotion, with the goals he scored. Last season he had injuries. If they get a good striker, yes. Decent defenders, Cooper is back fit now, midfield’s not bad.”
