Staunton joins coaching staff at Elland Road

February 2008

STEPHEN Staunton takes the first tentative steps towards re-establishing himself in top-class football by joining Gary McAllister at Leeds United.

The Dundalk man will fill the role of assistant manager to his former team-mate, who succeeds Denis Wise at Elland Road.

One-hundred-and-four days after relinquishing his reign over the Irish soccer team, Staunton checks in at Leeds’ Thorp Arch training complex, before completing the formalities of the deal.

‘I’m delighted to be here,’ he tells leedsutd.com.

‘I hope I can be of assistance and help this great club and get it back where it belongs.’

Former Scottish international, McAllister, previously signs Staunton as a player when he is in charge of Coventry City, and the pair also briefly cross paths at Liverpool during the 2000-01 season, before Staunton returns for a second stint at Aston Villa.

And Staunton, who works as Paul Merson’s assistant at Walsall before landing the Ireland job, is looking forward to getting back into the daily grind of club football.

‘It’s a great opportunity to work at a big club, with a good manager, and learn the ropes from someone else on the inside, and show how the club runs.

‘Your next progression after playing is coaching and managing, and this is a great opportunity to be part of something that will be big in a few years.’

The duo is initially installed on a trial basis until the end of the season, and will be hoping to arrest Leeds’ recent dip in form.

One point from their last four games, has seen Leeds slip to eighth in the League One table.