Daniel Farke – All you need to know about Leeds United’s title-winning manager
Daniel Farke ended Leeds United’s brief stint out of the Premier League after they were relegated back in 2023.
After a horrendous campaign that saw Leeds relegated, with four separate managers in the dugout at different stages during the 2022/23 season, United were truly a mess.
Multiple Leeds players activated their loan clauses in their contracts that summer, which allowed them to leave temporarily as the Whites were left powerless.
Some players also left permanently, whilst others attempted to follow in their footsteps after Farke was appointed as manager in that same summer.
Farke weathered the storm, eventually leading Leeds to 90 points before their hearts were broken after losing in the play-off final against Southampton.
But the way the German manager and his squad bounced back in their second season in the Championship ensured they will always have a place in Leeds United’s history.
Daniel Farke’s managerial history
Before he was lifting trophies as Leeds manager, Farke began his managerial career at SV Lippstadt in 2009 after ending his playing career at the club a year prior.
During his six-year spell with the German outfit, he guided them from the sixth tier of German football to the fourth tier.
- This spell is regarded as the most successful in Lippstadt’s history by some
- In his 144 games in charge, Farke won 71
- He had a 1.72 points per match ratio during his time as manager
Following his time at Lippstadt, Farke would go on to manage Borussia Dortmund’s reserve side, Borussia Dortmund II.
After two seasons in charge, he failed to come to terms on a new contract before entering English football with Norwich City.
Before his spell at Elland Road, Farke was best known for his time in charge of the Canaries.
During his spell at Norwich, Farke won the Championship title in his second season in charge in 2018/19.
Despite being immediately relegated the following season from the Premier League, Farke ensured they instantly bounced back, winning his second Championship title with the club in the 2020/21 season.
With Farke’s second crack at the Premier League not going to plan, he was sacked in November 2021, but ultimately left Norwich as a legend.
In an appointment in Farke’s career that will undoubtedly go down as his most bizarre, he was appointed FK Krasnodar manager in January 2022.
Krasnodar, who play in the Russian Premier League, may ring a bell for Leeds supporters, who were recently linked with their attacking midfielder, Eduard Spertsyan.
Farke would only work with Spertsyan and Co. briefly before leaving the club in March 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the former Norwich man not overseeing a single game as manager during his short tenure.
Farke would then return to Germany for his next job, taking charge of Borussia Monchengladbach back in June 2022.
During his lone season in charge, he finished 10th in the German top flight before being sacked.
This then opened the door for his spell in charge of Leeds United.
Daniel Farke takes Leeds back to the Premier League
As previously mentioned, Farke took charge of the Whites back in the summer of 2023, and given the circumstances, it certainly was not easy.
Willy Gnonto refused to train or play for the club as he attempted to follow so many others out the door, but Farke stood firm.
Bringing in Ethan Ampadu permanently and Joe Rodon on loan were his two most defining signings of his first season in charge, which ultimately resulted in them falling short at Wembley.
The following summer was not any easier for Farke in West Yorkshire.
Star players Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray all had their release clauses met and were sold as Leeds were forced to adapt.
United responded by signing Rodon permanently, as well as bringing in the likes of Manor Solomon, Jayden Bogle and Ao Tanaka as Leeds made no mistakes in the 2024/25 campaign, winning the Championship title and earning promotion to the Premier League.
Although this achievement will always ensure he is remembered fondly in Leeds, Farke also had his detractors who were concerned with his lack of tactical flexibility and stubborn team selection at times.
This led to rumours of Farke being sacked despite restoring Leeds’ Premier League status.
Ultimately, the 48-year-old kept to his job, but despite having three English second-tier winners’ medals to his name, he will be desperate to prove he can cut it as a manager in the Premier League and help Leeds avoid the drop.
Four points from his opening three games are a solid return so far, but following a transfer window which has largely been regarded as a disappointment by Leeds supporters, Farke will face another uphill battle during his third season of managing in the most demanding league in the world.
If Farke can keep Leeds up, it will be the most impressive achievement of his managerial career to date and will go a long way in silencing those who have their concerns regarding his managerial ability.
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