Victor Orta has revealed that Thomas Christiansen ticked the four boxes wanted by Leeds United during their manager search.
Christisansen was unveiled to the media on Monday following his shock appointment last Thursday after he did not figure at all in the betting in the three weeks that followed Garry Monk’s resignation.
However, the club have insisted that Christiansen has the four qualities that they were looking for in their new manager – playing style, a modern approach, a fierce work ethic and ambition.
The Denmark-born former Spain international has arrived at Elland Road just weeks after steering APOEL Nicosia to the Cypriot First Division title in a season in which he also led them to the last-16 of the Europa League.
Director of football Victor Orta, who was appointed only a few weeks before Christiansen, led the new manager search and explained why the 44-year-old got the nod.
“When we received the surprise news of the resignation of Garry Monk, we decided to take our time to chose the candidates,” said Orta on Monday, as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post. “It is not easy as a lot of coaches offer different styles and we put on a list what we wanted in a head coach – style, modernity, a hard worker and someone with ambition.
“He understood that Leeds was the opportunity for him, not just one opportunity. We analysed a lot of people in the process and had a lot of interviews with other managers because it is our obligation.
“But we finished the meeting (with Christiansen) and all had a chat and decided that he was the right person at this moment to arrive at this big club.”
Christiansen arrived at Leeds at the end of last week and is set to meet the players for the first time on Friday, when they return to the club’s Thorp Arch headquarters for routine medical tests.