David O'Leary : Glorious fall from grace

Ten years ago, Fianna Fail had 76 seats in government, the Twin Towers were still standing, and the Euro had not come into currency. A decade is a long time too in sport. As the Champions League is currently in half ways through the quarter final stage, it is easy to forget that in 2001, Leeds United were at this stage, having come through two group stages including teams such as Barcelona, AC Milan, Lazio and Real Madrid. Under Despite reaching the semi-finals, that was as good as it got for David O’Leary’s team, as they became a symbol of financial mismanagement, lost their best players, and dropped down three tiers of English football. If an insight as to how this occurred was needed, O’Leary’s book, “United on Trial” gives a clear insight.

The book was released in controversial circumstances, after a number of Leeds United footballers went to trial twice over the serious physical attack on an Asian student. The book alienated O’Leary from the changing room, and within a year he was sacked as manager. O’Leary is pre-occupied with informing the reader that the irresponsible actions of a number of players were in no reflection on the club, and that those individuals were detracting from the good name of the club. Yet paradoxically, it is titled “Leeds United on Trial”

A common theme from the book is the total lack of accountability. Every single negative is backed up with an excuse “we were denied a famous victory over Real Madrid by a deliberate handball by Raul”, and even after Leeds are beaten 4-0 away to Barcelona, he is more concerned at the conduct of their hosts in the media zone, where he felt “their conduct was an utter disgrace” The consistent references to injuries also grates after a while. Maybe a deeper problem was the fact their youth academy was producing only average players at best.

What is palpable throughout is a heightened sense of self-importance. Four pages are taken up with how he spoke to Alex Ferguson to assure him he had not spoken to anybody about the Man. Utd job. Further afield he claims of suitors “It seemed that Lazio had been enquiring about me in their search for a long term replacement for Sven”.

The book helped bring an end to O’Leary’s reign at Leeds United, and after a 2 year stint at Aston Villa, he has drifted into managerial obscurity. It will be difficult for him to shake off the tag as an over-spender. Some what ironically, he is now in the UAE managing Dubai based side Al Ahli, in a country where money is no object.