Former Republic of Ireland International, and Leeds United Manager David O’Leary has departed company with the Yorkshire club. O’Leary was capped 68 times for the boys in green, and scored that all-important penalty against Romania, which secured our place in the quarter finals of World Cup Italia 90’.
When the story broke this morning, Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale went on record as saying that the pressures of some of the off-field incidents (most notably the Boyet and Woodgate trial) were the reasons behind the departure of O’Leary. However O’Leary himself spoke to the media from out side his home today saying - I am going on holidays tomorrow, and I went to the club today to tie up a few loose ends. I was informed by the chairman that I was sacked .
David O’Leary took over at Leeds United in 1998, after playing only ten games for Leeds as a player, with injury forcing him into early retirement. Prior to this he spent a staggering "18 years" at Arsenal. His greatest achievement was that of a fourth place finish in the premiership (99-00’ season) and subsequently that coveted Champions league spot. Incidentally Leeds got to the semi-Final of the Champions League that year. For his first season in charge, Leeds finished 5th in the Premier League 98-99’.
But as previously mentioned off the field O'Leary had to deal with problems, after no fewer than four Leeds United Footballers were arrested following a city centre incident in Leeds. This resulted in two of the most highly publicised trials, and Leeds Footballer Jonathan Woodgate was convicted for affray. O'Leary's book, Leeds United On Trial, didn’t go down well with Leeds either, considering that the club failed to qualify for the Champions League that season, and only a fifth place finish.
But all in all Rio Ferdinand seems to be the hot favourite behind the exit of our countryman. Manchester United are reportedly increasing their bid to GBP£35 mil, and O’Leary was dead set against this transfer, wishing to keep his defender. Rumours too have been circulating non-stop of not only the proposed sale of Ferdinand, but also Keane, Harte, Boyet, Viduka and Mills. The Team has been reasonably successful under O’Leary’s reign, but with heavy investment (that of reported GBP£60mil spent on players) the club have failed to qualify for the Champions League on two occasions under his four-year reign as Leeds United manager. And no silverware arrived at Elland Road during his management spell at Leeds also. It is thought that a replacement is to be announced later in the next couple of weeks, and the bookies odds on the replacement are as follows:
Mick McCarthy 2/1
Martin O'Neill 6/4
Gordon Strachan 5/2
PeterTaylor 7/1
Keep your hands off Mick now!
O’Leary’s record as Manager of Leeds United Football Club
1998/99: Fifth Place 1999/00: Third Place - UEFA Cup SF 2000/01: Fourth Place - Champions L SF 2001/02: Fifth Place - UEFA Cup Round 4
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