Thomas Christiansen on his time at Leeds United.

Thomas Christiansen has made a Leeds United admission with Whites praise ahead of his Panama side’s huge World Cup date with England tonight.

Former APOEL and AEK Larnaca boss Christiansen was a surprise appointment to the Elland Road hotseat back in June 2017 and his team made a strong start to the Championship season in the bid to end the club’s exile from the Premier League.

Results then took a turn for the worse as Autumn fell and despite another good run in December, Christiansen was sacked in February after a 4-1 defeat at home to Cardiff City made it five losses from the club’s last five games.

Christiansen eventually returned to management as boss of Union Saint-Gilloise in July 2019 before taking in his first international job in being appointed head coach of Panama the following summer.

“They were amazing and I really enjoyed it”

The Dane steered the team to qualification for the World Cup and his men face England on Saturday night in a huge group stage finale.

Christiansen, though, has certainly not forgotten his time at Elland Road where the 53-year-old says he learned the most as he also experienced the “amazing” people of Leeds.

"My time in Leeds was not so long but I learned a lot,” said Christiansen, asked about what being at Leeds told him at his pre-match press conference.

"I liked a lot the people in Leeds. They were amazing and I really enjoyed it.

"And it was also place where I had learned the most in my coaching career because also when things are not going so well is where you grow the most."