Thomas Christiansen replied to a Twitter message from Leeds centre-back Liam Cooper, after the 28-year-old announced he had signed a new deal with the club.
After signing a new five-year deal that will keep the club captain at Elland Road until 2024, Cooper said, “A very proud day for me and my family. The hard work continues to achieve the ultimate goal. Thank you.”
Stuart Dallas, who shares the same agent as Cooper, also signed a new deal with Leeds on Wednesday, that saw him commit his future until 2023.
Following the tweet from Cooper, former Leeds manager Christiansen said, “Well deserved” and added three clapping emojis.
Well deserved @LiamCooper__ and @dallas_stuart ??????
— Thomas Christiansen (@T9Christiansen) September 11, 2019
The rise and fall of Christiansen
Danish manager Christiansen enjoyed a fast start at Elland Road, winning five of his first seven league games in the 17/18 season to top the table with his new Leeds side. However, the honeymoon period didn’t last and Leeds lost four of five in October, were knocked out of the FA Cup by League Two Newport and then suffered a run of six games without a win at the start of 2018 that saw the manager sacked.
His successor, Paul Heckingbottom, didn’t fare much better, winning just four of his 16 league games in charge before he was sacked in the summer. There is a happy ending to this story though, as Andrea Radrizzani then brought in Marcelo Bielsa, who took the same team to within a whisker of promotion last season.
Terrace talk
This was a nice touch from a manager who always exuded class at Leeds but just didn’t have the experience or the tactical nous to succeed at a Championship club.
Some Leeds fans paid tribute to their former manager, who is now managing Belgian First Division B side Union SG.
One even tipped a return to Elland Road for Christiansen, saying, “Well said Thomas, and with those long contracts they’ll still be here when you take back over when Bielsa leaves.”
Nice touch TC.??
— Mitchell Emmerson (@MitchellEmmers2) September 11, 2019
You deserve great things TC, top bloke
— Pete G (@Petegoodall) September 11, 2019
Well said Thomas, and with those long contracts they’ll still be here when you take back over when Bielsa leaves ????
— Gill?? (@Gill_W_) September 11, 2019
Respect, gaffa. Good luck in Belgium this year ???? #lufc
— Virginia LUFC (@LUFCVirginia) September 12, 2019
Once leeds. Always leeds ??
— Alex Wilson (@a1exLU) September 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/kaljuUK/status/1171891113822760960