Exclusive Max Wober: Leeds defender on move to Elland Road, darts Ally Pally and being a leader | Soccer News

As Max Wober sits with sky sports activities for his pre-Manchester United interview, he barely had 12 hours to get well from Leeds’ thrilling 2-2 draw at Previous Trafford.

Life is uninterrupted for the 25-year-old centre-back now that he’s within the Premier League following his £11m transfer from Austrian membership Crimson Bull Salzburg in January. After that, he takes his dad and mom to the airport earlier than turning his consideration to Sunday when Leeds face United once more, however this time at Elland Highway, reside on sky sports activities.

Sunday February 12 12:30 p.m.

Kick off 2:00 p.m.

Wober’s dad and mom will not be capable to watch this recreation within the flesh, however they’d a view within the entrance row at Previous Trafford because the Austria worldwide delivered a assured efficiency in central defence. His goal-line clearance to disclaim Alejandro Garnacho an equalizer with the scores at 1-0 was misplaced within the chaos of one of the thrilling encounters of the season, however was important for Leeds to come back away with a degree, which moved them one level away from the relegation zone.

“It was wonderful for my dad and mom,” says Wober sky sports activities. “They had been within the entrance row straight in the midst of the group of Leeds followers. Usually if you get tickets to your dad and mom they’re usually within the VIP part the place all of the households are seated, however they had been straight within the center and so they beloved it.

“They might actually really feel how a lot it means to Leeds followers.”

It turns into a bit simpler to see why Wober’s father was able to courageous him away with the Leeds followers at Previous Trafford if you be taught of his mini obsession with the England crew.

“Once I was between 10 and 16, in all of the household images he was sporting an England shirt,” Wober stated. “He purchased a New England jersey when he was right here now, so he carried on that custom.”

Why main turns into pure

Wober himself embodies the spirit of Leeds help and has already endeared himself to the fanbase together with his arduous tackling and fervour on the pitch. After his block to disclaim Garnacho, Wober celebrated as if he had scored a objective as his teammates lined as much as pat him on the again.

In addition to his apparent defensive qualities and skill to play from the again, aided by having performed increased up the pitch as a youth, Wober possesses pure management qualities which were arduous to overlook since arriving at Leeds.

Wober was stored beneath management by caretaker boss Michael Skubala as 4 gamers within the dressing room stepped up after head coach Jesse March was sacked on Monday. He is barely been on the membership for a month however is already one of many large voices within the crew together with Liam Cooper, Luke Ayling and Illan Meslier.

“I’ve all the time had that in me,” says the previous Ajax and Sevilla defender, “I used to be a captain all my teenage years and I all the time tried to be a pacesetter, regardless of the nation through which I play.

“I feel it is simply part of my character that I care for my crew and get them in form, be loud, arrange myself and inform everybody my sincere opinion. It is simply part of me and that is what I’ve tried to carry since I have been right here.”

The story of Wober’s transfer to Leeds

Wober first caught wind of Leeds’ curiosity when he was on trip together with his girlfriend within the Maldives simply earlier than Christmas. He was making an attempt to loosen up throughout the Austrian Bundesliga winter break and was having dinner as his agent tried to succeed in him with an pressing message.

Then Leeds head coach Marsch, who had already signed Wober for Crimson Bull Salzburg in 2019, wished to know if the defender was able to reunite at Elland Highway and wanted a solution.

“We had been on the resort restaurant and I had no Wi-Fi or something,” he says. “Once I returned to my room and as quickly as I discovered the Wi-Fi connection, I acquired a number of messages from my agent.”

Marsch was on his strategy to a gathering with Leeds sporting director Victor Orta and proprietor Andrea Radrizzani. Objectives for the January switch window had been prime of the agenda.

“Jesse actually desires to carry you over and needs to speak about you on the membership,” Wober instructed his agent. “So if you happen to give the inexperienced gentle to that, that will assist tremendously.”

Wober solely had just a few hours to consider this chance together with his household and his girlfriend. However he shortly gave his reply: “Let’s make my dream come true.

Falling in love with England as a youngster at Ally Pally

England and the Premier League have all the time held a particular place in Wober’s coronary heart. As youngsters, he and his pals traveled to London twice to look at the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

They’d mix the journey to Ally Pally with a Premier League recreation on Boxing Day. Tickets for Vicarage Highway had been offered by former Watford and Austria defender Sebastian Prodl.

“It was a little bit of a convention to go to London on Boxing Day and we all the time attempt to watch soccer and we’re all a little bit of a fan of darts so we determined to decorate up and have fun,” he says .

“It was wonderful. It was the primary time I fell a bit in love with the tradition, each soccer and darts.”

Wober, who on the time was making an attempt to interrupt into the primary crew at his boyhood membership Speedy Vienna in Austria, added: “I used to be 16 or 17, my objective was first to be an expert footballer, but additionally to play within the Premier League, the most important league on this planet.

“It was undoubtedly motivation to look at these video games as a younger boy. Feeling the ambiance and watching one of the best gamers on this planet, that undoubtedly helped me.”

These experiences gave a younger Wober the possibility to see the stage he now graces. The defender hopes he can hold Leeds going this season and keep it up his Boxing Day custom in 2023 – however this time on the pitch.

Watch Leeds vs Man Utd reside on Sky Sports activities Premier League and Essential Occasion from 1pm on Sunday; kick off 2 p.m.