Some Leeds United fans once started two petitions to have Victor Orta sacked

Add as preferred source on Google

It would be fair to say that Leeds United director of football Victor Orta is now something of a widely revered character at Elland Road. 

The Spaniard’s shrewd business in the transfer market and passionate adoration for the club’s fans and players has seen him universally liked in West Yorkshire. 

It is odd to think that this was not always the case. 

In fact, Leeds United fans were, at one point, so disappointed with Orta’s dealings that some fans even started a petition to have him sacked – twice!

Back in 2017, two separate petitions were launched on change.org asking for Orta to be relieved of his duties.

The first, set up by Andrew Thorpe, aimed to reach 1,000 supporters but only ever made it to 887.  

The other was less successful. Started by Tom Collett, it reached just 24 signatures of a 100 signature target. 

But it did highlight just how disappointed a growing and vocal minority were with Orta after his first summer at the club. 

Some might say, rightly so. 

Of the 20 new recruits that arrived in Orta’s first recruitment drive, only Ezgjan Alioski looked like a first-team star. Mateusz Klich struggled at first and eventually headed to FC Utrecht on loan whilst Pontus Jansson was a player who was already on his way to Leeds following a previous loan spell.

Others, like Felix Wiedwald, Pawel Cibicki and Caleb Ekuban just did not click at Elland Road. 

However, Orta soon proved a driving force in the ambitious move to bring Marcelo Bielsa to Leeds and that has shown itself to be an inspired swoop. 

The likes of Patrick Bamford, Helder Costa, and Jack Harrison have followed and Leeds fans are already excited by the early promise of Raphinha and Rodrigo in West Yorkshire. 

He has still made some errors. Jean-Kevin Augustin, Lewis Baker, and Laurens De Bock all spring to mind. 

But with Leeds in the Premier League and Bielsa’s approval ratings at an all-time high, it is hard to see a fan petition starting anytime soon calling for Bielsa to get the sack. 

As one sardonic Leeds fan commented on a respective petition.

“This aged well.”