Pontus Jansson has revealed his “shock” at Garry Monk’s bombshell exit from Leeds United.
The Swedish defender became the first player to speak publicly about Monk’s departure following his resignation on Thursday.
Jansson admitted to Swedish newspaper Fotboll Skanalen that he had his share of run-ins with the 38-year-old, who dropped him from the team for one match in the closing stages of the season despite his consistently impressive form.
But the centre-back paid tribute to Monk for improving him as a player and as a person during the season they worked together.
The manager had rescued Jansson, 26, from Serie A anonymity after signing him initially on a season-long loan that proved such a resounding success that he agreed the terms of a three-year contract to begin in July.
“I liked Garry enormously. It came right shocking to me if I’ll be honest,” Jansson told Fotboll Skanalen. “It was my girlfriend who called me yesterday and said, when I did not even know what had happened.”
Jansson explained what made Monk, who transformed Leeds from bottom-of-the-table regulars to genuine promotion candidates, such an impressive manager.
“He’s been awesome, really nice people, good football coach. He’s meant a lot to many, not just for me.
“He gave me confidence, above all, time for me to mature as a player and person. He believed in me from day one. He has taught me a lot. We have had our tussles, but we’ve always had respect for each other and knew we liked each other.”
Jansson was a key member of a solid Leeds defence and formed a rock-solid partnership alongside loanee Kyle Bartley.
The centre-back pairing were one of the best combinations in the Championship and Jansson was rewarded with a placein the Football League team of the season.