Since working at Tottenham as Juande Ramos’ assistant, Gus Poyet has been eager to get back to work, waiting for the right offer to come his way and looking for an opportunity to prove himself as a manager or head coach.

The former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder has a sharp footballing mind and, according to those who have worked with him, he reads the game exceptionally well. It came as no surprise, therefore, when he was recently considered the favourite to take over the vacant managerial role at Leeds United after Gary McAllister was dismissed by the Elland Road club just before Christmas.

However, with Poyet openly declaring his desire to pursue a managerial career in England, many were shocked when the Uruguayan did not take up the role at Leeds and there was a fair amount of speculation that he had turned down the opportunity to take charge of the club where he previously worked as assistant to Dennis Wise...

“That is not true,” said Gus when I discussed the matter with him and, in the following interview, Poyet makes his position clear, emphasising his desire to work as a manager ‘at the right club, with the best people.’

Poyet:      I have heard the rumours saying that I turned down the manager’s job at Leeds United. Above all I would like the opportunity to deny these stories because, aside from not being true, they might confuse people regarding my actual situation at the moment.

Guillem:    Did you ever discuss the position with anyone at Leeds?

Poyet:    From the minute my name started being linked with the Leeds job; I was expecting a call from Ken Bates that sadly never arrived. I know there were a lot of people who took it for granted that, at the very least, I was going to get a phone call: whether it was to offer me the job or even to tell me that I hadn’t been chosen. I was ready to go, but it is clear that they weren’t interested in me.

Guillem:   So the reports at the time, stating that you were the favourite to take over are wide of the mark?

Poyet:    I just want to make it absolutely clear that Leeds never offered me the manager’s job, nor did they ever ask me if I was interested in it. On the other hand, I would like it to be known that I was ready to accept the challenge of managing Leeds, if the opportunity had been offered to me.

Guillem:    So what is next for Gus Poyet? You have ambitions to get back in to coaching as soon as possible don’t you – maybe even as a manager?

Poyet:    My position at the moment is that I am waiting for the right challenge to present itself:  as a head coach or manager of a club. I have spent two and a half years working as a number two; I have seen the manager’s job up close and I have learned from every situation that I have faced as an assistant: I’ve been working in close contact with players, studying their reactions, how they adapt and respond to change. On a tactical and strategic level, I’ve been working with two very different coaches like Dennis Wise and Juande Ramos and I am ready to get started as a manager.

Guillem:    Do you have a preference as to where that might be?

Poyet:   Where, how and who? That is up for discussion; a question of sitting down with the Chairman of any club that is interested, formulating a project that is in the best interests of the club and, of course, is right for me as well. It is not about how big the club is, or what division they are playing in; it is about the right club, having the best people leading the club, with a solid, realistic project. After that, the rest is down to me: it will be my responsibility to carry out that project and do the very best for the club in question.