Who is Thomas Christiansen? Profiling Leeds United’s new head coach
Thomas Christiansen has been announced as Leeds United’s new head coach, but what do we know about the Denmark-born Spaniard?
Since Simon Grayson departed Leeds in February 2012, eight managers have taken the permanent role at Elland Road, with Brian McDermott’s 15-month stint from April 2013 to June 2014 proving to be the longest reign.
With Garry Monk resigning in May – and having since taken charge of Middlesbrough – Christiansen becomes the ninth manager to take the reins at Leeds since Grayson’s departure.
But what experience does the 44-year-old have? We profile Leeds’ latest recruit…
Thomas Christiansen factfile
Born: Hadsund, Denmark
Age: 44
Teams managed: AEK Larnaca, APOEL
Honours: Cypriot First Division 2016/17
Playing career: Barcelona B, Sporting Gijon (loan), Osasuna (loan), Racing Santander (loan), Oviedo, Villarreal, Terrassa, Panionios, Herfølge, VfL Bochum, Hannover 96
Position: Striker
International recognition: Two caps for Spain
Cypriot champion
Following an eight-month stint as assistant coach at Abu Dhabi-based club Al Jazira in 2013, Christiansen took charge of Cypriot outfit AEK Larnaca in 2014.
Christiansen spent almost two years at Larnaca, where they twice finished as runners-up behind APOEL in the Cypriot First Division.
In the summer of 2016, Christiansen took charge of reigning champions APOEL. He guided them to the title as well as the last 16 of the Europa League – the furthest the club had ever gone in Europe – but it is understood he left his post with them to make the move to Elland Road.
The stats
Christiansen won 31 of 52 matches in his one-season stint at APOEL, losing 11 times and drawing 10 games for a winning ratio of 60%.
It was a campaign which saw APOEL become the first Cypriot side to reach the knockout phase of the Europa League, having beaten Olympiacos twice in the group stage.
In the last 32, APOEL lost 3-2 away to Athletic Bilbao, but went on to record a famous 2-0 victory over the Spanish outfit and ultimately knocking out the side who finished seventh in La Liga.
Prior to his season at APOEL, Christiansen won 59% of his games with Larnaca – W40 D14 L14.
Playing days
After coming through the ranks in Denmark, Christiansen began his senior career playing for Barcelona B.
It was his form for Barcelona B which saw Christiansen represent Spain on two occasions in 1993, having been born to a Spanish mother and taken citizenship upon moving to the country in 1991.
Christiansen was unable to make the step up to Barcelona’s senior team and was loaned out to Sporting Gijon, Osasuna and Racing Santander before moving on a free to Oviedo.
Spells at Villarreal, Terrassa, Panionios and Herfolge followed, but Christiansen rarely shone until he moved to VfL Bochum in 2001.
In Germany, Christiansen steered Bochum back to the Bundlesliga with 17 goals in 30 games in 2001/02, while he was the top-tier’s joint-top scorer alongside Giovane Elber when scoring 21 times the following season.
Christiansen moved to Hannover 96 in 2003, but he retired three years later after battling through numerous injuries.
