Mistakes, recruitment, Bielsa – The Leeds United lessons 49ers Enterprises must learn from Andrea Radrizzani

Andrea Radrizzani’s six-year stint at the helm of Leeds United is coming to end. The Italin has agreed a deal to sell the club to minority shareholders 49ers Enterprises and although that transaction hasn’t been completed just yet, Radrizzani will be saying his Elland Road goodbyes.

There’s been ups and downs during his time in charge and the promotion to the Premier League stands out as the 48-year-old’s major success. But, the last two seasons have severely soured his legacy and he leaves Leeds exactly where he found them: the Championship.

Here’s a look at what 49ers Enterprises can learn from Radrizzani’s time at the club as they wait for their purchase to be finalised.

Read more: Leeds United’s 49ers Enterprises takeover offers optimistic summer transfer picture with changes needed

Appointments can make or break

If there was one decision that can define Radrizzani’s spell at Elland Road, it was the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa. The Argentine galvanised both the club and the city at a key moment in time and, with the backing from the ownership, he created the powerful momentum, mentality and feel good factor that eventually took the Whites back to the Premier League after 16 seasons.

Bielsa took Leeds to ninth in the Premier League table and at that point Radrizzani’s stock was at an all-time high, as his stint in charge of the Whites continued on its steep trajectory. Bielsa was sacked in February 2022 with form deserting Leeds in their second season in the Premier League, and Radrizzani’s appointments since then have been mediocre at best.

Jesse Marsch capitalised on carnage and kept the club in the Premier League for a second season, but he couldn’t produce the performances or the results the next season and was eventually sacked after just eight wins in 32 games. Javi Gracia failed to provide the stability needed to efficiently halt the slide and the gamble on Sam Allardyce ultimately backfired as Leeds were relegated.

It’s not an exact science, of course, and most clubs go through peaks and troughs, but poor decision making over the last couple of seasons is a major reason why Radrizzani is having to sell Leeds as a second tier club.

Never stand still

Looking back at Radrizzani’s time at Elland Road, there is a sliding doors moment when negative momentum was allowed to take over and that’s the 2021 summer transfer window. After finishing ninth in the top flight, many hoped to see the club invest in the squad once more, bring in fresh faces and evolve from the side that had won them promotion to one capable of establishing themselves as a Premier League force.

However, whether it was due to a lack of funds, a touch of arrogance or faith in the crop at the time, they didn’t act enough in the window. Junior Firpo was the only new addition to the senior side until a last ditch deadline day push saw Dan James signed for £25m.

It wasn’t enough and Leeds were hit with a nasty case of second season syndrome because of it. They failed to heed the warning signs the following January, too, with Mateo Joseph representing the only new addition during that window.

Standing still is akin to going backwards in English football, particularly in the Premier League and that’s something 49ers Enterprises must avoid.

Don’t forget the here and now

Big picture thinking is never a bad thing. It’s a sign of ambition and a drive to get better and football fans will never be disappointed with either of those traits.

However, it should never get in the way of securing the here and now. That’s what Leeds are guilty of forgetting all too often over the last couple of seasons, particularly in this year’s January transfer window as they failed to bag the striker who could score the goals required to secure their top flight status.

They did sign a forward, they broke their transfer record in doing so no less, but it was immediately apparent that Georginio Rutter was a signing made with the future in mind. Rutter went on to make just 11 Premier League appearances for the club with his only goal coming while representing the Under-21s.

In his defence, Rutter will be expected to kick on in the Championship, should he stick around, and he clearly has heaps of talent, but Leeds needed an oven ready forward to slot in and help secure the future for players like Rutter to eventually blossom in.

Clarity is vital

49ers Enterprises don’t need telling how important the fans could be on their journey at Elland Road. As minority shareholders, they’ve taken a back seat and watched those supporters ride on the crest of a wave before things ultimately turned sour and key personnel at the club came under scrutiny.

Of course, as a business, not every decision can be made with supporters in mind, but communication and clarity goes a long way in any fanbase. The Whites’ fans want to see progress made at their club, but they also want to see honesty, integrity and decency.

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