Virgil van Dijk: Leeds United didn’t sign Liverpool defender from Celtic due to former chairman Massimo Cellino

Virgil van Dijk: Leeds United didn’t sign Liverpool defender from Celtic due to former chairman Massimo Cellino
Almost five years ago David Hockaday was handed one of the biggest jobs in the Championship when he took charge of Leeds United.The former winger, who is now head of male football at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS), was surprisingly given the Elland Road job by the club’s then chairman Massimo Cellino.3

Hockaday was a shock appointment as Leeds manager

However, he lasted just 70 days in the dugout and was the first manager to fall victim to the free-firing Cellino during the Italian’s turbulent three year regime in charge of the Whites.Speaking to the Guardian, Hockaday has shed some light on the carnage of his time at Leeds and believes Marcelo Bielsa has it a lot easier as Whites boss now.He said: I was going into Championship games blind it was crazy.Ive seen [Marcelo] Bielsa going on about all this data, but we had nothing. “We had just one match analyst, one strength and conditioning coach and it just felt unprofessional.“I was thrown to the dogs, just scrambling to get information on the opposition by phoning up other managers who had played the teams.“I went in at ground zero. There was virtually nothing.Hockaday reminisced about the chaotic structure of recruitment in his time as Leeds boss, stating he was often shut down by his chairman when recommending his targets.He claimed : He [Cellino] said: Go and get me a young, unproven striker that will score goals and we can sell on.3

Cellino fired many managers whilst chairman of Leeds United

I said: Andre Gray. A few days later, he said: No, Ive spoken to him and his agent, hes too much.“I said: From Luton to Leeds United, and hes too much? Later into the season, he goes and gets [Mirco] Antenucci for millions of pounds.Hockaday also revealed he could have signed Virgil van Dijk, then of Celtic, Craig Cathcart and Conor Coady during his time as manager – but the suggestions were dismissed by Cellino who wanted Leeds to sign young Italian talent instead.3

Hockaday said he recommended Van Dijk but his suggestion was dismissed

Flipping heck, Hockaday continued. Dont make me cry.“I was scratching my head being told no about those I had recommended while we were getting in these Italian-based players who were nowhere near it. Thats what killed me.

---

Where every Premier League club's fanbase ranks in the

---

Ex-Celtic star Simon Donnelly mocks Adrian Durham over Scott Brown blast. has mocked Adrian Durham after the talkSPORT host's astonishing rant. What Scott Brown did, just, it smells of Celtic.
Round Of Sixteen 2 Winner News, Scores, Schedule, Stats

---

LIVERPOOL striker Daniel Sturridge has finally sealed his exit away from the club, joining relegation battlers West Bromich Albion on loan until the end of the season. The 28-year-old had fallen
Liverpool transfer news: Chukwueze, Adrian and players the

---

It doesn't help having Granit Xhaka in central midfield Every Premier League team's best foreign player ever. Capoue is perhaps the most underrated player in the division: his 6.1
Premier League preseason power rankings | FOX Sports

---

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak hits back at claims by LaLiga president that Citizens are damaging European football Written by: fpnews Posted on: May 27, 2019 Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has launched a furious defence of the club's spending and accused LaLiga president Javier Tebas of 'hypocrisy'.
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak hits back at

---

May 17, 2019 · Allegri's contract was due to expire at the end of next season and he indicated he would remain in place when Juventus clinched a record-extending eighth straight Serie A title last month.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri to leave multiple Serie

---

Jurgen Klopp has backed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to become Manchester United 's next permanent manager. Solskjaer is at the Red Devils on an interim basis until the end of the season but there / Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done nothing to harm his chances of getting the Manchester United job permanently at the end of the season.

---

Harry Winks has been compared to Michael Carrick by former Chelsea star Joe Cole. The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is renowned for his ball retention but, just like former Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Winks compared to Michael

---

Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha down the flanks will be a tough test for him after such a long lay-off. Tottenham vs Crystal Palace Premier League RESULT Charlton's Twitter account leads
WATCH: Andros Townsend gets Goal of the Season in - buzz.ie

---

Arsenal moved above Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United into third place in the Premier League as they earned a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United on Monday. Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre
Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United: Gunners go back into top four

---

MANCHESTER UNITED star Paul Pogba showed off his outrageous first touch during a TV interview — even though he was sat down. Paul Pogba showed off his incredible first touch mid-interview
~ Paul Pogba can become the Premier League's - fp-news.com

---

Adrien Rabiot is set to snub a host of European mega clubs in order to sign a new deal at PSG. Rabiot, who was on the standby list for France at the World Cup, could sign the contract this week. He looked set to leave the Parisian side in either January or next summer, due to his contract expiring
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd make Rabiot offer, Liverpool ace

---

Feb 28, 2019 · Manchester City and their stable of sister clubs have signed a new 10-year kit deal with Puma worth £650 million. It is understood the contract with Puma will earn the City Football Group (CFG
Manchester City news: Premier League champions swap Nike for

---

1,418 - Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has failed to score (or deliver an assist) in his last 1,418 minutes of play away from home in the Champions League - 23 hours and 38 minutes without finding
Champions League score predictions - ProSoccerTalk

---