LEEDS UNITED HAVE revealed that Thomas Christiansen has been handed the role of head coach.
The Championship club have been looking for a new manager since Garry Monk resigned from his role at the end of May. Monk narrowly missed out on the play-offs places in his first season but departed after just 12 months in charge.
And 44-year-old Christiansen has agreed to take over, having recently managed Apoel Nicosia — where he won the Cypriot top flight as well as leading them to the last-16 of the Europa League.
Prior to that, he was at the helm at AEK Larnaca and also had a stint as assistant of Abu Dhabi-based Al Jazira.
Born in Denmark to a Danish father and a Spanish mother, the former striker joined the ranks of Barcelona as a teenager.
He had a handful of first team appearances but never established himself before going on to play for Oviedo, Villarreal as well as clubs in Greece, Germany and his homeland.
He also represented Spain at international level — earning three caps and scoring one goal.
Christiansen becomes the club’s seventh new manager in three years and their 16th since relegation from the Premier League in 2004.
Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani recently took full ownership of the club, replacing his unpopular compatriot Massimo Cellino.
“We are delighted to make this announcement today as it successfully concludes what has been a thorough and extensive search, following a huge level of interest from all over the football world,” said Leeds managing director Angus Kinnear.
We wanted to appoint someone who can help us create a winning culture at the club and unite everyone connected with Leeds United, from the players to the supporters, ultimately taking the club back to where we all feel we belong.
“Thomas was someone who had been on our radar from the very early stages of the process and quickly established himself as the outstanding candidate.
“We are confident we have found a man who can work with us to take the club to the next level.”
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