Following Garry Monk’s shock resignation last week, Leeds United are once again searching for a new manager and one of the frontrunners for the job is former Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka.

Monk left Elland Road after failing to agree new terms to extend his initial 12-month rolling contract, and fans were understandably disappointed with the news considering the 38-year-old made the club a force in the Championship again, despite narrowly missing out on finishing in the play-off positions.

Meanwhile, the Spaniard was sacked by Boro in March following a disappointing Premier League campaign that ended with relegation back to the Championship after just one season back in the top flight.

The unveiling of Victor Orta – who worked with Karanka at the Riverside Stadium – as the Whites’ new director of football this week has only intensified the rumours that the 43-year-old will follow him to Yorkshire.

Here are three reasons Leeds United would be mad not to appoint Aitor Karanka…

He won promotion with Boro

After a seven-year spell in the Championship, Karanka led Middlesbrough back to the Premier League last season as they finished second behind Burnley.

The experience of leading a team out of such a tough and competitive division can’t be forgotten because as well as Garry Monk did throughout his only campaign in charge at Elland Road, he ultimately fell at the final hurdle.

With the experience and the know-how of how to get results at crucial moments, the Spaniard could be the man for Leeds.

His relationship with Orta

For far too long under the leadership of Cellino, Leeds United had an owner that struggled to get on with his manager and they need more stability going forward to get the success that they crave and the supporters deserve.

Now that Cellino has gone and has been replaced by Andrea Radrizzani, the choice to reunite director of football Victor Orta with Karanka – with whom he worked so closely with at Boro – could be the united team that would lead the Yorkshire outfit back to the Premier League next term.

His contacts

Having worked with Jose Mourinho during the duo’s time with Real Madrid, Karanka has a good relationship with the Portuguese manager and it could mean that he could bring some of United’s best youngsters (however controversial that may be) to Elland Road over the summer – if he was to be appointed.

Karanka also brought in Calum Chambers on loan from Arsenal last year which suggests that he has a healthy working relationship with Arsene Wenger, and his contacts throughout the game would surely help him strengthen this Leeds team.

Do you agree, Leeds fans? Let us know below.