Leeds: Massimo Cellino confirms Darko Milanic is new boss
Last updated on .From the section Football
Leeds owner Massimo Cellino has confirmed former Slovenia international and "very cool guy" Darko Milanic will become the club's new head coach.
Milanic, 46, quit Austrian side Sturm Graz on Sunday and will sign a two-year contract at Elland Road, which is set to be finalised on Wednesday.
Cellino said: "He's just arrived. We've been waiting for him about 15 days.
"I don't know (why I've chosen him). Coaches are like watermelons. You find out about them when you open them."
| Milanic says his fond farewells |
|---|
| Sturm Graz held a press conference on Sunday in which the club's board appeared to be saying a very emotional farewell to coach Darko Milanic, who they have thanked whilst handing him a ticket to Leeds.Adam Pope - Radio Leeds |
Cellino added: "His particularly qualities? He's good looking, what can I tell you?"
The Italian also likened coaches to watermelons when he appointed Dave Hockaday in June.
Hockaday lasted only six games before he was sacked by Cellino, who dismissed 36 managers during 22 years in charge of Italian side Cagliari.
Milanic won nine domestic trophies with Slovenia's Maribor before joining Sturm Graz in 2013.
He said on Sunday that the opportunity to coach Leeds was from "another world".
| Who is Darko Milanic? | |
|---|---|
| Playing career | Managerial career |
| Partizan 1986-1993,Sturm Graz 1993-2000,five Yugoslavia caps 1991-92,42 Slovenia caps 1992-2000.Retired at the age of 32 to pursue a career in football coaching | Primorje 2004-06,Gorica 2007-08,Maribor 2008-13. With Maribor he won four Slovenian Championships, three Cups and two Supercups.Sturm Graz 2013-present |
"Who knows when such an offer will come again?" he added.
Leeds are unbeaten in four games under caretaker boss Neil Redfearn, having risen to 11th in the Championship after Saturday's 3-0 win against Huddersfield.
Cellino, who completed his takeover of Leeds in April, sold Cagliari the following month.
Brian McDermott, who was sacked in January when Cellino was poised to buy Leeds only to be reinstated a day later, left the club by mutual consent in May.