Taylor succeeds Farina as Leeds United Loans Manager
Taylor was first-team coach at Sunderland from November 2019
Written by Simon Austin — August 3, 2021
FORMER Bolton and Middlesbrough defender Andrew Taylor has joined Leeds United as their second ever Loans Manager.
The 34-year-old replaces Italian Simone Farina, who left to become General Manager of the player management company First Football in November last year.
Taylor joins from League One Sunderland, where he had been first-team coach since November 2019. He joined the club with Phil Parkinson and took caretaker charge for a short period when the manager left.
When Leeds Sporting Director Victor Orta appeared on the Training Ground Guru Podcast in October 2019, he explained that improving the club’s loans strategy had been a key focus for him.
Farina, a former professional footballer who was a whistleblower in the 2011 Italian match-fixing scandal, had recently been appointed to the new role of Loans Manager after working in international development for the club.
“We start with the loan manager this year, Simone Farina - not in the level of the big clubs, but we are analysing, trying to improve our policy,” Orta explained.
“It is really good to try and make successful the loan, not just sign a form and forget.”
In August 2019 we outlined the work that Leeds had had to do to get Eddie Nketiah on loan from Arsenal, which involved making a presentation to a 'loans committee' including the player himself.
The role of Loans Manager is commonplace at most Premier League clubs now and involves identifying the best loans for players, as well as monitoring their progress when they are away from the club. The position requires knowledge coaching and analysis knowledge as well as excellent communication skills.
Norwich's Neil Adams explained what the role involves HERE.
Taylor played for clubs including Bolton, Middlesbrough and Cardiff during a playing career spanning 15 years and announced his retirement in September 2019.
