Managerial madness continues at Leeds as Cellino axes Milanic

Leeds United have sacked Darko Milanic little over a month after appointing the former Slovenia captain as head coach.

He won none of his six Championship matches in charge of the Elland Road outfit, and was axed after a 2-1 home loss to Wolves where the visitors came from behind.

Milanic, 46, last just 32 days in the Whites job, eclipsing Brian Clough’s infamous 44-day reign in west Yorkshire. Neil Redfearn has reportedly been given permanent charge of the team by controversial Italian owner Massimo Cellino.

Former Champions League semi-finalists Leeds have now gone through two head coaches this campaign, having dismissed virtual unknown Dave Hockaday before the end of August. Redfearn then spent a month as caretaker before Cellino plumped for former Sturm Graz and Maribor manager Milanic.

Only Championship rivals Watford have had more men in charge this term. The Hornets lost Beppe Sannino, who returned to Italy; Oscar Garcia, who stepped down on health grounds; and Billy MacKinlay, who had a week in the job.

Milanic’s former Partizan Belgrade teammate Slavisa Jokanovic is now at the helm at Vicarage Road. Like United, Watford are owned by Italians, in the Pozzo family.

“I want to apologise to the supporters, they deserve better results,” Whites president Cellino wrote on the club’s Twitter feed, accompanying a short statement that confirmed Milanic’s dismissal.

The Whites appear to have gone for the in-house promotion following a sustained period of managerial instability. Redfearn has had four temporary spells in charge of them in the last two years.

Since Simon Grayson was ditched by the previous Leeds owners in February 2012, Neil Warnock and Brian McDermott have also had unsuccessful spells in charge at Elland Road.

Milanic led Slovenia at Euro 2000 and went into coaching at Maribor following playing spells there and Partizan. He was United’s first boss from outside the British Isles.