Premier League: Leeds United announce Javi Gracia as new manager

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Leeds, Feb 21: Leeds United on Tuesday signed Javi Gracia as their new manager as the club battles relegation in the Premier League.

The Spanish manager has signed a "flexible" contract with Leeds and replaces American manager Jesse Mersch, who was sacked in the first week of February.

Gracia has past experience of English football as he led Watford to 2019 FA Cup final and has extensive experience of handling football clubs in Spain, including Villarreal, Valencia, Malaga among others.

"Leeds United are delighted to announce the club have agreed terms with Javi Gracia to become men's first team head coach, subject to obtaining a work permit," the club said in a statement.

"The experienced 52-year-old has agreed a flexible contract at Elland Road."

Leeds fired Marsch after their 0-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest and named Michael Skubala, who leads the Under-21 team, as the interim manager.

Leeds are enduring a torrid time in Premier League with no wins since November 5 and are 19th on the table with just a point above bottom-placed Southampton.

Gracia's last stint in Premier League was 2019 when he was fired by Watford after a poor start to the season. He managed Valencia and Qatari club Al Saad.

Leeds earlier made attempts to sign Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder, Rayo Vallecano's Andoni Iraola and Feyenoord's Arne Slot respectively but none of the deals worked out.