I FIGHT... BUT SO DID FERGIE
Leeds boss shares his passion (and temper)
said it — Craig Brown, Archie Knox, Walter Smith — that I remind them so much of Alex in his early 50s. That hunger, desire and passion to win.
‘I was brought up on one of the largest council estates in Glasgow called The Circuit and there was a rough side to it, like Alex and Govan. In those areas, you grow up with a tenacity to fight for what you’ve got. I fight for my team, for my staff and for my fans.
‘I’m actually quite a quiet person despite what people might say. My father said on his deathbed 27 years ago, “If they don’t like you son, they don’t know you”.
‘A lot of people that don’t like me are connected with clubs I’ve beaten. When you win eight or nine promotions in a short space of time that tends to happen.’
Evans is fully aware of the perils of working for Cellino.
But having brought promotion success to Boston, Rotherham and Crawley, he is convinced that he’s the man to take Leeds back to the big time after nearly 12 years out of the Premier League.
‘One hundred per cent,’ says Evans, who has been nominated for the Championship’s manager of the month award for December on the back of a seven-match unbeaten run.
‘Managers here might not have had long recently, but given time I will take Leeds United back to the Premier League. I fully believe I won’t become another victim. I can’t imagine being able to manage a bigger club than Leeds United. It’s an iconic club.
‘When I got here we were in a relegation fight. Now we’re looking up, not down.’
And what about the rumours of Cellino meddling in team affairs?
‘Any head coach who is sat here and saying they aren’t making the decisions is a shame for football,’ says Evans.
‘I spoke to the owner for many hours before I was appointed and asked him if I would have full control of playing matters. We know what the parameters are.
‘People are bound to be fascinated because we are two outgoing characters who speak their mind.
‘But we don’t have ups and downs, we’re very level. He’s been true to his word and I’ve not had one surprise.’
Evans’s replacement at Rotherham, Neil Redfearn, was sacked as Leeds boss by Cellino last May and accused the Italian of being ‘childish’ for denying him a car park pass when his team won 1-0 at Elland Road in November.
There is no bad blood between Evans and his old club, though.
‘I had dinner with the Rotherham chairman and his family before Christmas,’ he says.
‘Rotherham will always be in my heart, but it’s like an ex-girlfriend. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Leeds United.’