Come in No13 and get us up, Leeds ask new boss

LEEDS hope new manager Thomas Christiansen can prove a success much like previous ‘unknowns’ Marco Silva and David Wagner.

The Danish-born former Spain striker, who manged APOEL Nicosia last season, met Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani in Madrid this week. He will be the 13th manager appointed since they were relegated from the Premier League in 2004.

So thorough was Christiansen’s presentation that the Italian owner immediately ended his search, emerging from the interview to tell colleagues: ‘He’s our man.’

Sportsmail understands that Christiansen’s research into his prospective employers went so far as to highlight the matches which cost Leeds their play-off place last season.

Elland Road insiders believe he can follow the examples of Silva at Hull and Wagner at Huddersfield in winning over supporters who wanted a more high-profile appointment.

Silva impressed during the second half of the season and, despite Hull’s relegation, was snapped up by Watford. Wagner arrived at Huddersfield last summer from Borussia Dortmund’s reserves and led the Terriers to the Premier League via the play-offs.

Christiansen’s APOEL Nicosia were crowned league champions this year and reached the last 16 of the Europa League for the first time in their history. The former Barcelona striker was previously in charge of Cypriot club AEK Larnaca, whom he guided to successive secondplaced finishes.

Signed for Barca by Johan Cruyff in 1991, he played for Spain twice but his best season came in the Bundesliga with Bochum when he was joint topscorer in 2003. He was forced to retire through injury in 2006.