OPINION
Norwich might be running away with the Championship this season but the real story can be found at Elland Road.
Leeds are currently in second place under Marcelo Bielsa and the maverick manager has come into the club and turned a squad that finished 13th in the Championship last season, into one on the brink of a return to the top-flight.
And it’s all thanks to their director of football, Victor Orta.
Orta joined in May 2017 and was roundly blamed for the recruits that failed so badly at Elland Road last season – players like Laurens De Bock, Jay-Roy Grot and Caleb Ekuban. However, since he was unveiled as the architect behind Bielsa’s arrival and the subsequent success of both the first-team and the Under-23s this season, Orta’s star is shining bright.
In an interview with SkyBet, Orta revealed that he had tried to bring Bielsa to clubs he was working at on two previous occasions.
First he recommended Bielsa at Sevilla but the Argentine decided to go to Athletic Bilbao. Orta tried again at Zenit St Petersburg, where he had helped to recruit Brazilian World Cup star Hulk, but again he failed.
Orta admitted that he thought it would be “impossible” to bring Bielsa to Leeds but owner Andrea Radrizzani gave him the go-ahead to try and the rest is history.
And it will be a very rich history if Bielsa brings Leeds back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. He will become an instant legend, if he’s not already, at Elland Road.
If he does win promotion, he will have done it the right way, too, with thrilling football and an intensive, attacking style that has had Elland Road buzzing all season.
But history shouldn’t forget Orta either. He’s the man responsible for bringing Bielsa to Elland Road and after a turbulent start to his career at Leeds, he’s truly given the club every chance of getting back to the big time.
You can watch the full interview with Orta below.