Leeds United appoint Uwe Rosler as new head coach at Elland Road
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Leeds United have appointed former Wigan Athletic boss Uwe Rosler as their new head coach, replacing Neil Redfearn, who ended the season in charge of the Championship club.
The 46-year-old German has previously been in charge of Brentford and the Latics, and his latest managerial role will see him become the Yorkshire outfit’s fifth head coach in less than a year.
Redfearn only took over last November and he has overseen the Whites finish their second tier campaign in 15th position, leading to Rosler’s appointment upon his departure, with his contract set to have expired this summer anyway.
New man in the Elland Road dugout Rosler has been out of football management since being sacked by Wigan towards the end of last year, despite leading the Latics to the Championship play-offs and FA Cup semi-final during the 2013/14 season, after joining them from the Bees in December 2013.
“I’m very happy. This opportunity came up at short notice and it was a no brainer, you can’t get bigger than this,” stated Rosler.
The new man in charge revealed that he will indeed have full say on the team selection and also transfer dealings this summer.
“I’ll be responsible for picking the team, completely my responsibility and have an input on who goes in and who goes out.
“I think life is a challenge. I thrive on challenges. To be head coach at Leeds United is a chance in a lifetime.”
Leeds fans have now had to endure five new head coach appointments since controversial Italian Massimo Cellino took over the club in April 2014, with Brian McDermott initially being sacked last May because the ambitious owner wanted to undertake a head coach and director of football approach.
McDermott was shockingly replaced at the helm by inexperienced Forest Green boss David Hockaday, but his reign incredibly lasted only six games before losing his job in August, with his Slovenian replacement Darko Milanic then also being axed after a torrid opening stint.
Cellino then cast his eye towards academy coach Redfearn, but he came under severe scrutiny before Rosler’s eventual appointment, and it still remains unclear whether the former boss will rejoin his previous role with the club’s youth set-up, having been offered the chance to do so.
Rosler is a former Manchester City and Southampton striker who featured for both clubs during the beginning of the Premier League era. The previously capped East Germany international then arrived in England with Brentford, before a move to Wigan, but his latest job is sure to be his toughest to date.
