Before the Argentine's arrival as manager in 2018, there were 14 others who have tried and failed to get Leeds back into the top flight since the club's relegation in 2004.
1. Kevin Blackwell (June 2004 - September 2006)
Blackwell was the first manager tasked with returning Leeds to the Premier League and he went mightily close. Leeds had sold all their star players following their financial meltdown, but Blackwell steered a new-look squad to the 2006 Championship play-off final. Leeds lost 3-0 to Watford and the former goalkeeper was sacked after poor results early in the 2006-07 season. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire
2. Dennis Wise (October 2006 - January 2008)
Leeds were second from bottom when Wise was appointed and relegation to the third tier for the first time in the their history was virtually assured before the club were deducted 15 points for entering administration. More loan players and free transfers came and went, but Leeds were in a play-off place - in spite of the deduction - when Wise departed to become an executive director at Newcastle. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire
3. Gary McAllister (January 2008 - December 2008)
Former Leeds captain McAllister guided the club to the 2008 League One play-off final despite their points deduction. Leeds lost 1-0 to Doncaster and halfway through the following campaign the Scot was sacked after a run of five straight defeats, which included a humiliating FA Cup defeat to non-league Histon. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire
4. Simon Grayson (December 2008 - February 2012)
Leeds lost out to Millwall in the 2009 League One play-off semi-finals under Grayson, but sealed automatic promotion the following season. Grayson's side narrowly missed out on the 2010-11 Championship play-off places and two thirds of the way through the 2011-12 campaign he was sacked with Leeds in 10th place, three points off the top six. In 2009, the Whites enjoyed a memorable FA Cup run under Grayson, beating Manchester United at Old Trafford and drawing with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Photo: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire
5. Neil Warnock (February 2012 - April 2013)
Warnock could not resist the chance of taking Leeds back to the big time, but made little impact as fans stepped up their protests against unpopular owner Ken Bates. Warnock departed by mutual consent three months after new owners GFH Capital had completed their takeover, with Leeds five points above the relegation zone. Photo: Dave Thompson/PA Wire
6. Brian McDermott (April 2013 - May 2014)
McDermott kept Leeds up and was sacked and then reinstated halfway through the following season by another new Leeds owner, Massimo Cellino. McDermott left by mutual consent at the end of the 2013-14 season after Leeds finished 15th. (Picture: Tony Marshall/PA Wire). Photo: Tony Marshall/PA Wire