Ross McCormack was the best of a bad bunch at Leeds United during his four-year stint at Elland Road, between 2010 and 2014. But he almost moved to Spain from Elland Road, to replace Isco.
McCormack would clock up 157 appearances for Leeds during his four seasons in Yorkshire. The Scotland and former Rangers star would initially join Leeds for a tiny fee from Championship rivals Cardiff in 2010.
During his four-year stint, McCormack became widely regarded as one of the best players in England’s second tier, but he never managed to play in the Premier League. He eventually left for Fulham in 2014.
In his final season at Leeds, in which the club finished in a dismal 15th place, McCormack clocked up a massive 39 goals and assists. Scoring 29, he laid on 10 more. Fulham weren’t the only club interested.
Ross McCormack celebrates a goal during Barnsley v Leeds United - Sky Bet Championship 2014
Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images
How McCormack almost replaced Real Madrid superstar Isco
Isco, meanwhile, is now playing for Real Betis alongside Leeds flops Diego Llorente and Marc Roca, under former West Ham and Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini. But in 2013, Isco left Malaga for Real Madrid.
McCormack tells Fulham’s official podcast that he could have left Leeds to go to Malaga, in a move that would see Malaga spend the money received for Isco in 2013, on signing McCormack as a replacement.
“Before I came to Fulham, there was one club outside of Britain. I could have went to Malaga, but that never materialised. Isco maybe just went to Real Madrid, right? There was a bit of money there to spend.”
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Why Ross McCormack was told he could no longer train at Leeds
The Massimo Cellino era is a remarkable one, and probably not in a good sense. Cellino says the club were operating at a loss of more than £100,000 a day when he joined, and when he left, it was profitable.
But Stephen Warnock recalls how Cellino removed the jacuzzi, ice baths, limited the canteen and told players they had to bring in their own socks. That is, despite signing 15 players in the summer of 2014.
Ross McCormack during his playing career.
Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
McCormack, in a previous interview, recalls of how Cellino forced him not to attend training to keep him injury-free ahead of an £11m move to Fulham in 2014. Speaking to Open Goal, McCormack said:
“Hockaday, he said, you won’t need them [trainers/boots]. The owner said you’re not allowed to train. He wanted to make sure I didn’t get injured. When I left, he said I refused to train, covering their back.”
A ridiculous end, and ridiculous treatment, of a player who often kept Leeds away from a relegation battle in the Championship single-handedly. McCormack should be heralded for his time at Elland Road.