FORMER Leeds owner Massimo Cellino has recalled the time he accidentally sacked Brian McDermott following a miscommunication.
Cellino, 67, took over at Elland Road in January 2014 and immediately made his presence known.
Just shortly after arriving the Italian sacked then-manager McDermott, who previously played for Arsenal, by accident – all because he didn't like the colour of a couch.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Cellino said: "I was a mess when I got there.
"My English was very poor. My pronunciation was terrible. When I got there, there was a velvet bloody couch in the suite at Elland Road.
"It was purple. I said, 'Change the bloody couch, I don’t want to see it anymore'. And then they fired the bloody coach!
Read More on Arsenal
AMERICAN DREAM
I won league titles with Arsenal – I'm just as recognised in my new career
FAB £40
Premier League free bets: Get £40 football welcome bonus with Betfred
"They said, 'Who is taking the team tomorrow?'
"I said, 'Why? We don’t have a manager?'
"They said, 'You fired him'. 'I fired the manager? S***'.
"It was 10 at night and there were 2,000 people at the stadium who wanted to kill me. They hid me in the stadium and then took me out in a police car. They said, 'It is better if you don’t go to the game tomorrow'… Bloody purple!"
Most read in Football
RED ALERT
Man Utd under investigation as guests ‘become ill after being served raw chicken’
MATCH OFF
FA Cup 2nd round match postponed after last minute INVESTIGATION into club
Freeze frame
FA Cup second round tie POSTPONED after spell of freezing weather
YOB CHAOS
Cop ‘engulfed in flames’ in clashes with Legia Warsaw fans before Aston Villa tie
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
McDermott’s assistant, Nigel Gibbs, went on to take over as caretaker manager and oversaw a 5-1 win against Huddersfield Town.
Cellino added: "Sometimes the big mistake becomes the best thing you do. That’s bloody football."
Despite his initial success, Gibbs was sacked by the owner just four months later.
Cellino eventually sold his shares in Leeds to Andrea Radrizzani in 2017and returned to Italy to buy Serie B side Brescia.
Source: Read Full Article
