Daniel Farke’s job security could not be stronger at this moment in time, after Leeds United’s 1-0 win over Everton. But there is a scenario in which he might not have even been in the dugout on Monday.
It is the summer of 2023. Leeds have just been relegated, the club are organising a complete takeover as The 49ers look to buy out Andrea Radrizzani, and Victor Orta’s clause is allowing players to jump ship.
It is a mess. Yet, one of The 49ers’ first moves after completing a takeover is to bring in Daniel Farke. The club needed stability and a calm head and they could not have picked a manager with a calmer aura.
Promotion was the aim, and despite the calamity of that summer, Leeds still reached the play-off final. A year later, and Leeds won the Championship title with the club’s biggest-ever points total in a season.
But despite all of that, despite Farke’s third Championship title, his work in the transfer market and the difficulties he had to overcome and deal with, The 49ers are said to have considered sacking Farke.
Chris Sutton says if it was the right decision to keep Daniel Farke
Amid the rumours that Farke could lose his job after winning the title, plenty was made about Farke’s stats in the Premier League while at Norwich. Six wins in 49, before his sacking in November 2021.
But Farke never got the money he needed at Norwich. Noah Okafor’s imminent arrival is set to take spending close to £100m, at Leeds. Sutton cannot understand why Farke was linked with the sack.
“He gets you promoted, that was the aim. To take his job away and say you’re not good enough, we need a Premier League manager. Leeds had to fight and scrap, he was the guy who masterminded everything.
“I didn’t get that [Farke being linked with exit]. No, I can’t [understand the logic]. Norwich fans would take Farke back in a heartbeat. Not right now, but they accept that they made a mistake in letting him go.
“Farke’s time at Norwich was a huge success. More pressure at Leeds. I don’t view him as a Championship manager, that’s highly unfair. If he managed an established Premier League club, I think he’d do fine.”
The managers linked with Leeds United back in the summer
Leeds were linked with Carlo Ancelotti’s son Davide, who has since become Botafogo manager while his old man takes on the Brazil gig. Giovanni van Bronckhorst has joined the coaching staff at Liverpool.
There was also Roger Schmidt, a former Benfica manager who remains without a job. Richard Keys says Paraag Marathe only kept Farke because Jose Mourinho turned Leeds down to remain at Fenerbahce.
But most Leeds fans will be delighted with Farke right now, following the win over Everton and the work done in the transfer window. The former Norwich gaffer deserves, obviously, the chance to lead Leeds.
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