West Brom record stands out for Carlos Corberan as new Leeds United chief set for Zoom manager interviews
Carlos Corberan’s win ratio at West Brom “stood out” to Leeds United as they consider him for the vacant manager’s job, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The Baggies boss turned around a rapidly capitulating season under Steve Bruce to make a drive for a play-off place that only fell just short at the end of the season, having previously led Huddersfield to the final of the promotion tournament.
With 49ers Enterprises having agreed a deal to take over at Elland Road, expected new chairman Paraag Marathe is now set to join CEO Angus Kinnear for Zoom interviews with managerial candidates, and the Albion’s 40-year-old boss is in the frame.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reports: “President of 49ers Enterprises Paraag Marathe, currently vice chairman of Leeds but expected to ascend to the role of chairman when the takeover is ratified and complete, is joining Kinnear via Zoom to speak to shortlisted candidates this week.
“Carlos Corberan, who formerly took charge of the Under-23s at Leeds and worked closely with Marcelo Bielsa, is among those they have looked at.
“The Spaniard’s success at Huddersfield Town, where he masterminded a third-place finish and a play-off spot despite budget restraints, along with his 52 per cent win ratio at West Bromwich Albion have stood out to Leeds chiefs.”
Unsurprising
The very same reasons that Leeds would be interested in taking Corberan back to West Yorkshire are the reasons why West Brom will want to keep him at the Hawthorns.
He performed wonders last season with a squad that looked more likely to be relegated under his predecessor, and his march up the table arguably only started to falter after he was linked to the Elland Road job the first time around.
Whether that episode unsettled him or the squad, or the remarkable turnaround in form simply ran out of steam coincidentally close to that time, the Spaniard ultimately came up just short.
Had he been in charge from the start of the campaign there is every reason to believe the Baggies would have made the play-offs at least, and would potentially be facing a lot less uncertainty this summer if promoted.
As it is, they are at risk of even more if Leeds make a concerted push for the manager, and with other names linked to that job gradually taking up roles elsewhere the chances are increasing.
It would be a massive blow for West Brom fans to see Corberan leave as he is the first boss apparently capable of building something at The Hawthorns since at least Slaven Bilic, but an answer one way or another looks to be nearing.
In other West Brom news, Corberan is considered a “serious contender” for the job at Leeds.