Steve Evans: steadying Leeds during the 2015–16 season
Steve Evans managed Leeds United from October 2015 to May 2016, taking over from Uwe Rösler during another unsettled Championship campaign. His side improved sufficiently to finish comfortably clear of relegation, although promotion remained out of reach.
Appointment at Elland Road
Evans, a Scottish manager who had previously led Crawley Town and Rotherham United to promotions, was appointed on 19 October 2015. He inherited a Leeds side struggling for consistency and operating under owner Massimo Cellino, whose tenure had already seen frequent coaching changes.
Results in the Championship
Evans brought an outspoken touchline presence and an emphasis on competitive, organised performances. Results fluctuated, but Leeds gradually moved away from the lower reaches of the Championship.
Under Evans, Leeds played 38 league matches, winning 14, giving him a league win rate of approximately 36.8%. The club finished the 2015–16 season in 13th place, an improvement on the previous year’s 15th-place finish.
Departure and replacement
Despite the mid-table finish, Leeds chose not to extend Evans’ tenure. The club confirmed in May 2016 that his contract would not be renewed. Garry Monk was appointed as the next head coach in June.
Legacy
Evans’ Leeds spell was brief but comparatively more stable than several of the appointments immediately before him. He helped the team avoid a relegation battle and finish in mid-table, though he did not build a sustained promotion challenge. His departure was another managerial reset as Leeds looked for a route back to the Premier League.