Former Watford head coach Javi Gracia has been sacked by Leeds United after just 12 games in charge during his 10 weeks at Elland Road.

Leeds have appointed the former England manager Sam Allardyce as Gracia’s replacement as the club try to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Allardyce, 68, is tasked with guiding 17th-placed Leeds, who are out of the bottom three only on goal difference, to safety with four games remaining.

His first game in charge is against title contenders Manchester City on Saturday.

Allardyce, who will be assisted by former MK Dons, Charlton and Oxford United manager Karl Robinson said: "I was shocked. I never thought at this stage of the season [this would happen]. I thought there would be no jobs."

The appointment of Allardyce means Leeds have mow have had three different managers this season: Jesse Marsch began the campaign but was sacked in February before Gracia took over.

With a win rate of almost 38% and an FA Cup Final appearance in 2019, Gracia was one of the more successful head coaches during the Pozzo era.

However, the season after reaching Wembley started badly for Gracia and Watford as they lost their first three Premier League games.

A win over Coventry in the League Cup brought some light relief, but a 1-1 draw at Newcastle in the next league game was to be Gracia’s last and he was replaced by Quique Sanchez Flores, whose second spell at Vicarage Road was disastrous.

Watford ended that season with relegation from the Premier League.

Gracia was announced as the Leeds manager on February 24, and promptly won his first game in charge with a 1-0 success at home to fellow strugglers Southampton.

However, they have won only twice in 10 league game since then and their recent form has been dismal: four defeats in five games and 18 goals conceded in the process.

The Spaniard was a popular figure during his time at Vicarage Road, and the run to the FA Cup Final that he oversaw will always be remembered.

However, the 6-0 mauling handed out by Manchester City very publicly highlighted the flaws in his defensive system, and the hangover at the start of the following league campaign meant his departure from Watford was not that surprising.