CV's Coaching Weekly News

Unsurprisingly, we start this week in England, and with the return of Sam Allardyce to the Premier League. It was confirmed on Wednesday that ‘Big Sam’ would be taking the reins at Leeds United until the end of the season – a move that sees former Watford coach Javi Gracia depart after less than three months, with the Yorkshire club scrapping for Premier League survival. Allardyce returns for his first job since leaving West Bromwich Albion nearly two years ago; the former Bolton, West Ham and Everton manager will not be joined in the dugout by his long-term assistant Sammy Lee, who is currently completing jury duty. However, former Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpoolstriker Robbie Keane, and former Charlton and Oxford United manager Karl Robinson, are included in Allardyce's back-room staff. Gracia wasn’t the only departure from Leeds this week, with club owner Andrea Radrizzani announcing that sporting director Victor Orta had also left after six years at the club.

In the English Football League, League Two club Swindon Town confirmed that head coach Jody Morris and technical director Sandro di Michele had both left the club. Former Chelsea assistant coach Morris leaves after just 18 games in charge, with the club firmly lodged in mid-table as the season draws to a close. In the Championship, meanwhile, it is being reported that Swansea City are looking to recruit Paul Watson as their new sporting director. Watson is the current chief operating officer at fellow Championship club Luton Town.

A busy week in La Liga saw former Atlético Madrid and Watford manager Quique Sánchez Flores handed his P45 as manager of Getafe. The relegation candidates have turned to their former manager José Bordalás as they look to secure their safety. Finally, Barcelona's outgoing director of football Mateu Alemany looks set to join Unai Emery at Aston Villa; Barcelona themselves are looking towards their former midfielder Deco to be his replacement.

CHANGING FOOTBALL / CHRIS DAVIESChris Davies has been a successful long-term assistant to Brendan Rodgers, but after leaving Leicester he has ambitions to step up into a management role. In this wide-ranging interview, he reflects on the impact of the Swansea side he and Rodgers led into the Premier League, an exciting Liverpool team that narrowly missed out on an historic league title, and years of success at both Celtic and Leicester.

Check out all our exclusive coach interviews here