After an impressive goal scoring start against Nottingham Forest pre-season and coming on as a late but impactful substitute against Cardiff, it looks like finally a Leeds United manager is succeeding at getting the best out of Ian Poveda aka “The Wizard”.
London born Ian Carlo Poveda-Ocampo was nicknamed “The Wizard” behind closed doors at Brentford Academy in his early teenage years with Anthony Hayes, one of Poveda’s coaches at Griffin Park explaining,
“it was a name we gave him amongst ourselves, I don’t think he knew about it and it wasn’t a name we used when the squad were there because that wouldn’t have been right but yeah — ‘The Wizard’. He was an under-15 and some of what he could do with the ball was wonderful, real moments of magic.”
Let that sit there for a minute Leeds United fans, even as a teenager he was marked as something special. Poveda has had an extraordinary youth career with spells at Chelsea Academy, Brentford, Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester City. He has been successful playing for England U21 but can also consider playing for Columbia too! Poveda himself describes his style of play as “an attacking player, I can play right wing, left wing or in attacking midfield, I like to dribble with the ball, link up the play, score goals, create chances, assist and I work hard for the team’.
Despite long loans to Blackburn and Blackpool, Leeds United sent out smoke signals and recalled him back to Yorkshire for the 2023/2024 season to play for yet another manger. But this time it feels different, Farke is gradually, and yes agonisingly slowly, building up the Leeds United team and Poveda could play a major role this year. Fair enough if Jack Harrison and Will Gnonto do decide to stay, and let’s face it that is up for debate depending on what the transfer rumour of the day is, Poveda might find it difficult to keep his place on the flanks but a central attacking midfield position might become vacant and he could fill that slot nicely. Poveda is creative, energetic and can cause problems up and down the field with his exciting breakaways in attack.
Liam Cooper said of Poveda after the Nottingham Forest game,
“Ian’s been different class…he’s a credit to himself, he seems to have turned that corner and he’s got to keep improving now. It’s about being consistent. He’s not a young lad anymore”.
This might be Poveda’s chance to shine at Leeds United this season, and with only a year left on his contract, a regular first team spot within spitting distance and a chance at going for the Premiership again, Leeds United fans should be singing Living Poveda Loco every time he shows them wizardry skills!
