OPINION
It is fair to say that Victor Orta’s first season as director of football at Leeds United has been an eventful one.
The Spaniard was brought in by new owner Andrea Radrizzani to lead the club’s recruitment strategy, and he has overseen some big changes at Elland Road.
There have been some successes: Samu Saiz and Adam Forshaw the standout signings from the summer and winter windows respectively.
But, in among those triumphs, there have been mistakes. Some would say too many mistakes. Mateusz Klich, Felix Wiedwald, Jay-Roy Grot and Pawel Cibicki spring to mind.
Leeds’ poor performances on the pitch this season have led to Orta’s role coming into question among fans, with his signings showing little signs of initiating the revival they were brought in to start.
The Spaniard now faces a crucial second summer transfer window at Elland Road, and there is no doubt that he needs to get this one right if he wants to keep his job.
Leeds simply cannot afford another costly window in which the incoming players do not contribute towards their promotion effort. The Championship is too demanding for that to happen.
However, there is one possible saving grace for Orta. One thing that, when he does leave the club, he will know that he had an undoubtedly positive impact upon: the academy.
The club’s development side is showing extreme signs of improvement in recent months, and that is down to the Spaniard’s European outlook on recruitment.
The club’s academy manager, Adam Underwood, outlines the impact that Orta has had in a gushing review of his impact. As quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post, he said: “Any academy or club that wants to be in the Premier League has to cast its net further than its own doorstep. The strengths Victor brings are contacts and the knowledge of the European market. I can categorically say it’s the strongest recruitment set-up we’ve had in my time here.”
Leeds are now fourth in the North group of the Premier League’s Professional Development division, which is a far-cry from nine months ago when they had just 11 professionals in the academy.
The performances of young players such as Sam Dalby, Jack Clarke and Oriol Rey are showing the club that they have a future generation of players in the making at Thorp Arch, and that is thanks to Orta.
His positive impact on the academy will no doubt have put him in the good books of the club’s hierarchy, and its success may be a slight glimmer of hope in the tough summer ahead.
But, no matter whether the Spaniard sinks or swims in the coming months, his mark will always be present at Leeds.