05 June 2023 , 15:32
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Sam Allardyce's assistant Karl Robinson has outlined the "impossible job" as they unsuccessfully battled to keep Leeds in the Premier League.
Robinson was hired to assist Allardcye as Leeds battled relegation from the top flight in the third season of their return. However, they proved unsuccessful in their objective, with relegation confirmed following a final day defeat to Tottenham, with Leicester also dropping into the Championship as Sean Dyche's Everton survived.
Having been unable to bring in regular assistant Sammy Lee, former Charlton and Oxford manager Robinson was asked by Allardyce to be his right-hand man. Ex-Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane was also brought in following the departure of Javi Gracia, who himself had only replaced Jesse Marsch in February.
Robinson outlined the challenges of the role following confirmation last week that Allardyce's team would not be retained for the Championship season. Speaking to talkSPORT, Robinson said, "It was almost an impossible job, but we all have that ego going in and plotting a miracle. That’s not naivety or stupidity, we thought we could do it even though we knew it’d be so difficult."
Robinson also revealed his shock at being offered to assist Alardyce, saying: "I was playing golf and I got a phone call from the gaffer [Allardyce] to say what are you doing?
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"I said I was playing golf. He said can you get yourself up to Leeds tonight. He said he was going in for the last four games of the season. I actually think I said ‘are you mad?’ He said get yourself up here tonight and we’ll have a conversation. I got in my car and drove to Yorkshire."
It was a chaotic season at Elland Road, with the season starting strongly before a poor run of results in the wake of the World Cup left them mired in a relegation battle. Injuries to key players such as Tyler Adams proved detrimental to the cause, with the squad struggling with the demands of a busy schedule.
Karl Robinson was joined by Robbie Keane on the Leeds coaching staff ((Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images))With a return to the Championship now confirmed, Leeds will begin a rebuilding process, with Director of Football Victor Orta also having left during the closing months of the season.
Marcelo Bielsa's former assistant at Elland Road, Carlos Corberan has emerged as the one of the leading candidates to take the job, with the West Brom manager becoming the early frontrunner with the bookies. He has been joined in the running by Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker.