Credit: Imago/Shutterstock via The Times

Declan Carr

Mon 6 April 2026 19:10, UK

Daniel Farke showed that he gets Leeds United after he spotted Eddie Gray in the crowd after the win over West Ham.

The Whites overcame the hosts at the London Stadium despite blowing a two-goal lead in second-half stoppage time.

Farke will have been relieved as his side overcame Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in a penalty shootout on 5 April.

Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Graham Smyth revealed that the German waved and saluted at Gray, who is one of the most iconic figures in Elland Road history, as he was watching from the directors box.

Leeds and the Gray name are synonymous with each other, and the 49-year-old clearly recognises his importance of that after his latest gesture.

Why is Gray so important at Leeds?

Gray is one of Leeds’ biggest legends, after making a total of 532 appearances for the Whites across a 17-year career.

He won seven trophies in his time with the club, including two English top-flight titles and also played in the 1975 European Cup final, where the Peacocks lost to Bayern Munich.

He also managed the club between 1982 and 1985 and between 2003 and 2004, further enhancing his status.

The fact that Farke is embracing the history of his team, and showing love to one of the most legendary figures shows that he understands what it means to be at Thorp Arch.

Why the Gray legacy is still going at Leeds

The Gray legacy is still in effect in LS11, with Harry Gray making waves in the academy in the last few years.

He is currently on loan at Rotherham in League One and is expected to play a part in the Peacocks’ future shortly, if he can make the step up to senior level.

Archie Gray was sold to Tottenham in 2022 for a £40million fee, after making 52 appearances for the Yorkshire club.

He has gone on to star for Spurs, and is reportedly being eyed by Liverpool, meaning that there is probably little chance of a return in the near future.

The association between the family and the Elland Road side is not going away anytime soon, and hopefully, Farke will utilise Harry sooner rather than later, so it can continue on the pitch.