Leeds United’s 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the Championship play-off final at Wembley provided the backdrop for a disappointing summer in which Archie Gray, among others, were sold.
Had Leeds beaten Russell Martin’s side, the likes of Gray, Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville would have surely remained at Elland Road. But defeat saw the trio and Glen Kamara leave Elland Road.
Gray moved to Tottenham and on Wednesday night he finally won his first start for Ange Postecoglou’s side following his £40m move to North London. A move that allowed Leeds to sign Joe Rodon for £10m.
Gray lasted 90 minutes during a 2-1 win over Championship side Coventry City, having only managed two substitute appearances in the Premier League and remaining an unused sub in Spurs’ last two games.
Dallas says he told Gray play-off heartbreak will make him better
Still under contract at Leeds but having confirmed he would be retiring, Dallas was in attendance at the play-off final and watched Adam Armstrong score the only goal of the game as Southampton beat Leeds.
The third time in three games last season that The Saints beat Leeds. The Northern Irishman told Gray after the final whistle that the defeat will make him a better player in the long run, and it is showing.
“I said to him after the game that these games will make you a better player, it’ll help you as a player and help you grow. I mean, you can see that now,” Dallas said in an interview with Sky Sports this week.
What Dallas is up to now since retiring from Leeds in the summer
Dallas announced his retirement towards the end of last season after failing to overcome the knee injury he suffered back in April 2022, when going down after a tackle from Manchester City’s Jack Grealish.
A desperately sad moment for Dallas to retire early, but one he had to do. Since then, he has been with Northern Ireland’s National Team and was working in a coaching capacity in the last international break.
Indeed, Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Graham Smyth says he was in the dugout for his country’s 2-0 win over Luxembourg earlier this month. Whether he has taken on an official role remains to be seen.
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