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Clotet and Flahavan join Leeds United coaching staff, what will they bring to the table?
Monday, 13th Jun 2016 19:39 by Lucas Monk.
Leeds United earlier confirmed the appointments of both Pep Clotet and Darryl Flahavan as members of the coaching staff.
Clotet will act as assistant manager to Garry Monk, whilst Flahavan, who once played for Leeds on loan, will be tasked with coaching the goalkeepers at the club.
39-year-old Spaniard Clotet seems to have a wealth of tactical knowledge and coaching ability, and he is known to favour an entertaining passing style of football. Flahavan meanwhile, has garnered a vast amount of experience as a goalkeeper over the years having made over 400 appearances during his career before retiring last season.
The club released the following statement earlier today:
"We are delighted to confirm the appointments of Pep Clotet and Darryl Flahavan to form part of Garry Monk's backroom staff. Clotet, a Spanish coach with vast experience in European football, assisted Monk throughout his time in charge at Swansea City and has taken up the same position at Elland Road. Flahavan takes the role of goalkeeping coach after recently calling time on a 20-year playing career which included a brief loan stint at United back in 2009.
Clotet, 39, is highly-regarded within the game as a coach after spells in Spain and Sweden led to him joining Swansea, initially as an Academy consultant, in 2013. Monk promoted Clotet to assistant manager the following year and the pair guided the South Welsh side to their highest ever Premier League finish with a record points tally.
Flahavan, meanwhile, has over 400 Football League appearances to his name and is entering his first coaching role after retiring as a player with Crawley Town last season.
The 37-year-old's career included time at Southampton, Southend United - from where he was loaned to Elland Road in 2009, Crystal Palace, Portsmouth and Bournemouth."
The pair seem to bring a good balance to the club. Whilst Clotet is experienced within European football and will improve our players' technical skills, Flahavan's vast experience in the Football League will also no doubt stand him in good stead as he takes on his new role.
Flahavan's arrival can only be extremely good news for Marco Silvestri, who has struggled in England after joining Leeds for around £500,000 back in 2014 from Chievo in Italy.
Progress is finally being made at Elland Road after weeks of silence. I welcome the appointments and see them as positive additions.
I am often his biggest critic but I am pleased that the owner Massimo Cellino has allowed Garry Monk to bring his own backroom staff in and these moves can only be beneficial to the team.
It'll certainly be interesting to see how young, exciting prospects such as Charlie Taylor, Lewie Coyle, Alex Mowatt, and Lewis Cook develop under the tutelage of our new coaching team.
At last, some refreshingly good news to come out of Elland Road. I hope for more of the same.
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