Garry Monk’s sudden withdrawal and resignation from Leeds United earlier this week sent shockwaves through the Whites fanbase, unexpected as it was.
Signs had looked promising that Monk would sign an extended deal at Elland Road with all the right noises coming out of Leeds about waiting until the season is over and reappraising the situation then.
The wheels seemed to be in motion, until news came through of his decision to walk away from the club, a club that he guided to a more than respectable 7th place in the league. There was hope that Monk would return and move away from the solid platform that he had built during the 2016/17 campaign.
It didn’t happen and now Leeds United’s eyes must turn away from Monk and towards bringing in a new face to lead the club. At the moment it appears to be a two-horse race between Spaniard Aitor Karanka and Italian Claudio Ranieri, both managers who would bring a Latin flair to the West Yorkshire side.
Former Middlesbrough boss Karanka had been an odds-on favourite at one point but, according to bookmakers Sky Bet, he has slipped out to odd of 11/10 to be the next permanent manager at Elland Road. Those odds still mark the Basque-born former Real Madrid centre-back as favourite to take over from Garry Monk.
But the real story is that surrounding the other ‘horse’ in the race, Claudio Ranieri, and the rapidly falling odds on him being appointed to the Elland Road hot seat.
Yesterday Ranieri was placed at odds of 12/1, odds that have rapidly fallen – especially after news that the Whites had made a formal approach for him according to reports such as those in The Express. Earlier today Ranieri eased into position as second-favourite with odds of 9/2 and they have dropped even more to just 2/1 at the time this article was published.
Whatever happens at Elland Road regarding managerial appointments, Whites fans will simply be asking that it is an appointment done quickly and with no complications, what with the next campaign just around the corner.
