Next Leeds Manager: Di Canio would be a brilliant pick

Michael Lintorn
10 September 2014

Paolo Di Canio initially improved both Swindon and Sunderland

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Paolo Di Canio's reputation was ruined at Sunderland, but Michael Lintorn thinks that he would rebuild it at Leeds...

"Di Canio offers a proven record of short-term success and the force of personality to lift the listlessness that has engulfed Elland Road for approaching two and a half years."

While the names in the next Leeds manager frame attracting much of the press attention have been the club's turn-of-the-century strikers Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Robbie Fowler, Paolo Di Canio has been the most significant market mover.

Whereas Hasselbaink remains a 18.017/1 shot and Fowler is even less fancied at 19.018/1, Di Canio is now the third favourite at 6.411/2, with barely any distance between the Italian and the top two in the betting: caretaker Neil Redfearn and Steve Clarke at 5.04/1.

Di Canio would be a divisive choice after gaining more enemies than he did Premier League victories during his time at Sunderland, but he has achieved more as a dugout operator than anyone else at the top of the market, and all in little over two years.

The controversy magnet worked in each of England's top four divisions besides the Championship in that time and was an initial hit in all of them.

He won the League Two title in his first season in management with Swindon in 2011/12 and left them in the League One play-offs the following February.

Di Canio's time at Sunderland won't be remembered too fondly, yet his immediate impact was spectacular, inheriting a deflated side who had claimed just three points during an eight-match winless streak and guiding them to two triumphs in his opening three games.

They weren't just any old wins either. He followed a narrow 1-2 loss at Chelsea on his debut with a 3-0 romp away to rivals Newcastle, their first three points at St James' Park in 13 years, and a 1-0 victory over Everton, who were on the Premier League's longest unbeaten run.

Di Canio probably isn't the man to guide Leeds back to the Champions League, but the same could be said for anybody interested in the role right now.

What the former forward does offer is a proven record of short-term success and the force of personality to lift the listlessness that has engulfed Elland Road for approaching two and a half years.

Going for a quick fix is rarely advisable; however, there aren't better options at Leeds' disposal. If he drags them into the play-offs before an implosion, the reward will have vindicated the risk, while the increase in exposure and league position will make the job more appealing next time.

A look at the current standings of Swindon (tenth in League One) and Sunderland (13th in Premier League) shows both to be better off than they were before hiring Di Canio. Slumped 18th in the Championship, Leeds could use a similar ascent.