Report: 33-year-old signs Leeds deal amid interest from Spanish side

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Spanish outlet Onda Cero have claimed that Leeds United goalkeeper coach Marcos Abad put pen to paper on a new contract on Tuesday, amid interest from former side Elche.

Abad, 33, joined Leeds in the summer of 2017 as a part of Thomas Christiansen’s backroom staff that was put together by director of football Victor Orta. Orta knew Abad from the duo’s time at Middlesbrough.

Indeed, Abad was brought to Middlesbrough earlier on in 2017 after seven years at Elche. He left the Teesside club after the sacking of Aitor Karanka, and was brought to Elland Road.

Now, Elche want to bring Abad back to Spain and to the club in which he spent seven years between 2010 and 2017. That is because Luis Miguel Quirant has left his position as the second-tier club’s goalkeeping coach.

https://twitter.com/sidelineyefc/status/829278946466349057

But Elche have been disappointed in their pursuit of Abad, with the Spaniard putting pen to paper on Tuesday – as per the report – instead of returning to Spain to his former side.

TBR’s view

If Leeds are to challenge for promotion and finally end their 16-year wait for top-tier football again, they must keep the backroom staff almost identical to the team that pushed Leeds all the way last season.

Marcelo Bielsa has brought a togetherness, a pride and a belief that his system can work, but his trusted team alongside him are equally responsible for instilling that upon on the Leeds squad.

Keeping Abad, then, is just as important as keeping any other member of the Leeds team or backroom staff.

Abad (second from left) alongside Christiansen (middle) and Orta (third from right).