Why Ivan Bravo’s Appointment As The Director Could Spark A Revolution At Leeds United
There has been a reshuffle in the Elland Road boardroom this week, as Leeds United confirmed former Real Madrid executive Ivan Bravo as their new director.
Change has been afoot in West Yorkshire since Andrea Radrizzani bought a 50% share in the club from Massimo Cellino back in the New Year. Bringing in Bravo is a key part of that change in direction and he arrives at Leeds with a very impressive past behind him.
Having spent 7 years at Real Madrid as the club’s Director of Strategy, Bravo left Madrid in 2010 to become the Director General at the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence in Qatar. His experience is wide and he comes with a very high recommendation by those in the know.
It’s difficult to know yet, about what Radrizzani’s true motivations are, as Bravo arrives with the reputation of having made Real Madrid one of the world’s most profitable clubs. This, allied with a recent report showing Leeds to be very frugal in how they spend their income could mean fans being concerned about the move being about gaining revenue only.
However, this is not a bad thing. A club of Leeds United’s size can generate very healthy revenues, so with even more profit-making expertise in the boardroom, they may yet have the kind of transfer war chest the fans have craved for years. Putting Leeds on a strong financial footing may be the difference between attracting average Championship players to the club and signing the sort of players who can lead them back to the promised land.
Things need to change on the long-term for Leeds United and Bravo’s arrival could truly herald that change. Radrizzani is proving already that his contacts in the game are impressive, so bringing Bravo in and buying the remaining 50% of the club over the summer, are major positives for the club.
Whether we like it or not, football is a business as well as a sport. Radrizzani’s ability to work with a better quality of director, Bravo included, as well as better agents means they will inevitably attract a better quality of players to the club. Tying down Garry Monk may well be their first piece of serious business.
The boss’s future is not yet certain, though there is little doubt in the stands that he has done an excellent job thus far. The club has made progress and can be among the favourites to go up next season, as long as they don’t implode. Ivan Bravo may yet prove to be the catalyst for a revolution at Leeds and it won’t be long before we watch them in the Premier League once more.