It’s fair to say that Leeds United fans probably don’t have much good to say about Victor Orta. And his career following Elland Road is unlikely to change those opinions.
Marca cover the 47-year-old today and how, at Real Valladolid, things aren’t looking great either. It’s all to do with his loan of firing and hiring managers.
Orta joined the La Liga 2 side as their sporting director last summer, on a deal running until 2028. It was his second job after leaving Leeds in 2023, following a two-year spell as sporting director at Sevilla.
Leeds spell ended badly
He had, of course, previously spent six years at Leeds. The high‑profile appointment of Marcelo Bielsa and a return to the Premier League defined his tenure there.
But he departed Elland Road in 2023 amid fan protests and the club’s eventual relegation back to the Championship. That final year was a disaster. After sacking Bielsa in 2022, he went through Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and then Sam Allardyce. And it seems that was a trend.
Marca explain Orta has now reached a fourth consecutive season in which he has appointed at least two coaches.
Leeds had three, then at Sevilla it was José Luis Mendilibar, Diego Alonso, and Quique Sánchez Flores in 2023/24.
Leeds troubles continue
The following year, the Spanish club had Xavier García Pimienta and Joaquín Caparrós in the dugout. Now the latest dismissals are coming at Real Valladolid.
He joined last summer but hasn’t quite settled in there either. Again, two coaches have been replaced during his tenure as sporting director. The latest to fall has been Luis García Tevenet. He only lasted for seven games, with the club in the relegation zone.
His appointment, and sacking, is a ‘stain’ on Orta’s ‘already tarnished record’. He is accumulating a growing list of failed coaches. Now Valladolid wait to see what he’ll do next. They, like Leeds and Sevilla, are seemingly starting to ask questions.