Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani reveals he decided to buy the club after lunch with Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish and claims he ‘learned a lot’ from previous owner Massimo Cellino.
The Italian businessman, chairman and founder of the sports broadcasting group Eleven Sports, acquired a majority stake in Leeds in May 2017 after six months as the club’s co-owner with Massimo Cellino.
“In 2017, I was having lunch with Kenny Dalglish before Man City-PSG and he mentioned this ‘sleeping giant’ referring to Leeds United,” Radrizzani told DAZN.
“It made me curious because I didn’t even know what he was talking about. I did my research on Google and noticed that in 2004 Leeds were the sixth biggest club in the World with the Champions League semi-finals. For some reason, when I see something difficult. It attracts me. So I called Cellino who was the Leeds owner at that time. I pretended I was an agent who wanted to explore the possibility of buying the club on behalf of an Asian client.
“He [Cellino] said he wanted to sell because he was tired, his wife was no longer going to Leeds. After two weeks I told him it was me who was interested in buying. So I spent six months with him. He taught me a lot. He knows about football. We have opposite managing styles but I understood many important things.
“It’s everyone’s dream to own a football club, I managed to do it in the best and most difficult league. Every game is a final,” Radrizzani continued.
“The difference between winning and losing it’s down to details. I am proud to be the only Italian owning a Premier League club. It’s my third year. Leeds are a glorious club and we managed to get a promotion to the Premier League.”
What’s his managing style as a President and how did his career start?
“I grew up outside Milan, dreaming of becoming a footballer,” he said.
“Then I had the chance to enter the world of media rights. I started a career in Asia, selling Serie A rights there, then I started managing the rights of Premier League, La Liga Bundesliga and more, becoming one of the most important agencies in TV rights. This has allowed me to build contacts in football. I’ve known many presidents and club directors.
“During the 95 minutes, I am the first fan. Really involved in the game. From the following day, depending on the result, there are different effects, but I try to make the best choices for the club during the week.
“I never take decisions close to a game, but I am really involved in the relationship with the coach and only with a few players, the most charismatic ones. I speak to the team once or twice a year. It’s not my job.”
Leeds have 22 points in 24 Premier League games, just one above the relegation zone.
“This season has been complicated and I didn’t expect it,” admitted the 48-year-old.
“I had different expectations. We’ve invested a lot in the team, signing many young players. We paid for some choices that were perhaps not correct. Maybe we deserved more points in some games, but we are in this situation and we must fight.”
How does being the only Italian owning a Premier League club feel?
“It’s thrilling, you see big stadiums. We managed to win at Anfield this season, against City in Manchester, but nothing compared to the day we got promoted. After 17 years of purgatory, giving this joy to Leeds fans was bigger than any other project I could have made.”
Leeds signed Weston McKennie from Juventus in January, with the USMNT international moving to the Premier League on loan with an option to buy.
He sacked coach Jesse Marsch at the beginning of February, just days after the arrival of his compatriot from Turin.
“One thing I’ve learned this season is that sometimes you have to go straight to the point, make clear decisions, and not be too democratic.
“I had the feeling that things were not going the right way before the World Cup. I think it’s right to listen to the management and people working with you and I kept the coach, giving him two, three four more chances, but I only lost time.
“The worst thing was with Marcelo Bielsa. Given what he had given to the club, it was so difficult to tell him something like that. However, I had noticed the team needed something different because players could no longer follow him physically and psychologically. I had to take this decision against my will, knowing I would go against all Leeds fans who are still upset. It was very difficult, but it was the right thing.”
Bielsa spent three and a half years at the club and Radrizzani said the first time he met him was in Buenos Aires in a 10-hour meeting. “He had everything ready. He showed me how he wanted to change the training centre.”