Victor Orta, Leeds United’s former sporting director, admitted to having a “really good meeting” with another manager before appointing Jesse Marsch as Marcelo Bielsa’s successor.
Bielsa took over at Leeds in the summer of 2018 and transformed the mid-table Championship team into one capable of competing in the Premier League a few years later.
After helping them end their 16-year absence from the English top division in 2020, the Argentine led Leeds to tenth position the following season.
However, the former Argentina national manager was fired when the Whites’ fortunes plummeted in early 2022, before ex-Red Bull Salzburg manager Marsch was hired and guided them to Premier League safety.
But the Peacocks never looked convincing under the American, and he was fired in February 2023, as Leeds concluded the season in the relegation zone, ending their three-year Premier League run.
Now, Orta, who was fired by Leeds last year before becoming Sevilla’s sporting director, has stated that he spoke with Paulo Fonseca about perhaps replacing Bielsa in 2022.
Leeds met with Fonseca about the manager post.
He stated at a TransferRoom conference, “It was, to be honest, a very good meeting. Normally, these initial interviews are really fantastic; it’s like a first date; you say, ‘Look, your club is amazing, your chairman is amazing, your fans are amazing, the city is amazing’; today, in Seville, it’s easier than it was in Leeds.
“But you have to try it, and the coach says, ‘I have a real work commitment, I’m really good with the players, I’m a great leader.'” It’s typical because you want to impress, and then after the meetings, you usually need to get a second view from a player he trained or another director who worked with him.
“And these opinions are clearly subjective. This is the goal: to establish a decision-making process that is more equitable for coaches and teams, and with more information, it will be extremely beneficial.”
Former Roma manager Fonseca, who has impressed at Lille and led them to fourth place in Ligue 1 this season, then discussed his conversation with Orta about the Leeds post.
When asked how it was for the Portuguese, he answered at the same event: “It was quick. Honestly, we didn’t talk much that day; you [Orta] showed me more about your club, Leeds, at the time, about the facilities, the philosophy, the culture of the club, and even the city; it was more about this.”
Fonseca is apparently one of the possibilities to replace Stefano Pioli at AC Milan, with the Italian manager expected to leave the club this summer. When asked about the rumours and his future, the 51-year-old remained tight-lipped.
He told Radio Rossonera that he is completely focused on Lille’s final four matches of the season. The team’s future is undoubtedly more important than mine. I’m not sure what I’ll do next year; I haven’t chosen yet.
This is possibly an example of what could have been for Fonseca and Leeds.
