Javi Gracia won’t go down as a Leeds United legend, there’s no doubt about that.
The Spaniard lasted just three months at Elland Road last season, and his tenure in west Yorkshire played a huge part in the Whites’ eventual relegation to the Championship.
It’s fair to say that Gracia isn’t the most popular figure in Leeds. However, while the fans may not have too many fond memories of the Spaniard, it sounds as though some players still really like him.
Speaking on the My Mate’s a Footballer Podcast, Patrick Bamford has been discussing Gracia and his relationship with his former manager, and he says that he still speaks to him to this day despite spending a short, unsuccessful time together.
Bamford still speaks to Gracia
The £7m man discussed his relationship with his former coach.
“There have been quite a few managers who I’ve had good relationships with. One who came in last year, Javi Gracia, even now I speak to him and his staff, they were lovely, and one of the other guys at Middlesbrough, Aitor, I’ve always been close with him and we speak every so often,” Bamford said.
Did something right
Results didn’t go the way Gracia would’ve wanted when he was at Leeds, but it sounds as though he may have been doing something right at Elland Road.
Indeed, Gracia clearly left an impression on Bamford, and you don’t earn that type of respect and loyalty if you’re a bad manager.
The Spaniard may have just been the right man at the wrong time for a Leeds team that had a litany of problems that were deep rooted and seemingly impossible to solve in such a short space of time.
Who knows? Perhaps if Gracia gets another job in English football he could look to sign Bamford again in the future.