Thomas Christiansen: Leeds United’s Danish Diplomat

Appointed as ‘head coach’ in June 2017, succeeding the departed Garry Monk, Thomas Christiansen was somewhat of a surprise hire at Elland Road.

Arriving from Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia, he had been identified as a ‘hidden gem’ by Andrea Radrizzani who had only completed his full takeover just a few weeks previously.

BREAKING: Leeds United have appointed Thomas Christiansen as their manager according to Sky Sports News..

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— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) June 15, 2017

The Italian wanted someone who could replicate the “David Wagner blueprint” to coaching, with the German having had so much success implementing an attractive style of play at Huddersfield Town.

Several other candidates were considered by Radrizzani including Aitor Karanka; the ex-Middlesborough manager being installed as the early bookmaker’s favourite, especially considering his connection to the newly appointed Director of Football, Victor Orta. Ultimately Leeds moved in another direction.

Claudio Ranieri, fresh off the back of his shock Premier League title win with Leicester City had been an ambitious name in the frame though, one which was considered unattainable. Another candidate was Jaap Stam after the Dutchman led Reading to the Championship Play-off Final the previous season, however, there was uncertainty over his contract situation.

The biggest priority for Orta was bringing in a continental manager who played attractive football and after considering each name on his four-man shortlist, was persuaded by Christiansen who was born in Denmark, though had played for Spain due to his mother’s citizenship.

It was later revealed that the club had hired based on a ‘big data’ model, with Christiansen favoured because statistics showed he had consistently improved the clubs and players that he had managed previously, with the manager shortlist also being purposely non-British.

Possession Based Style Of Football

The Dane’s intention was to implement a possession-based, Spanish style of play, moving away from direct approaches of previous seasons in a bid to get the best out of creative talents, Iberian talents Pablo Hernandez and Samu Saiz.

It was a great start from Christiansen as he led Leeds to an undefeated run in his first nine games in charge in all competitions. By September, the club was top of the Championship table, playing a great brand of football and sparking talks of a return to the Premier League.

As opposed to the previous campaign where the club had relied on goals from striker Chris Wood, who since departed, Leeds were scoring from all over the pitch. Players including Kalvin Phillips, Kemar Roofe, Ezgjan Alioski and Pierre-Michael Lasogga all made significant contributions during the club’s early season start.

Christiansen’s honeymoon period didn’t last and the club soon ran into trouble. Encountering a slump, the club lost seven games out of nine between late September and November, with other teams seemingly having figured out Christiansen’s high-pressing 4-2-3-1 system, finding ways to by-pass it while in possession and successfully press the Leeds midfield who found themselves overrun all too easily.

It was this tactical naivety and lack of a ‘Plan B’ that appeared to turn fans against him, realising he was seemingly content to settle for draws instead of aggressively pursuing wins.

There was also a disciplinary meltdown in January with the club suffering somewhat of a red card epidemic, with three players sent off in four matches, forcing Christiansen to use inexperienced youth team players to fill in at a critical part of the campaign.

Even during the club’s worst runs, he refused to blame the players, usually staying loyal to them in public; his calm demeanour being attractive to the media at first, though essentially backfiring when they accused him of seemingly lacking the fight needed for the Championship.

Although he was well-liked by the players, especially given his ability to speak five languages which helped to unite a dressing room made up of a number of European nationalities, the board eventually grew frustrated by his ‘soft’ approach.

Promise That Plummeted

Despite it being thought initially that he could offer an attractive Spanish brand of football, mixed with Danish efficiency, in the end it appears that his plans were too ambitious.

Having featured for Barcelona B during his playing career, he was ‘obsessed’ with the 4-2-3-1 system and pressing high. While this worked in August and September, he was hailed as a ‘genius’, though when it started to fall apart, he faced criticism for being ‘too nice’to change it.

Christiansen was praised for getting the best out of and effectively integrating players such as Saiz and Alioski, while he was also instrumental in converting Philips from a box-to-box midfielder to a more technical, disciplined player, effectively laying the groundwork for what Marcelo Bielsa would then continue, further mould and essentially, perfect.

After another slump in January when the club succumbed to a seven-match winless streak that included a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Newport County, Christiansen was sacked as Leeds boss, with Radrizzani later admitting (perhaps unfairly), that the decision to hire him was a “big mistake”.