Leeds United promotion hero takes on new managerial role, first game vs Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr

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When it comes to manager talk and Leeds United, all the focus has been on Daniel Farke over the last week with some reports suggesting The 49ers could look to replace him.

Somewhat disrespectfully, Farke’s future was questioned by the national media just a couple of days after guiding Leeds to automatic promotion. It was claimed The 49ers were considering Farke’s future at Leeds.

But since then, Leeds sources have confirmed that Farke will remain in the dugout. That is despite links with Jose Mourinho and Cesc Fabregas, the latter impressing at newly-promoted Serie A side Como.

Farke will be in the dugout when Leeds take on Bristol City on Monday, and when Leeds finally return to the Premier League. But, another Leeds icon took to the dugout as manager for the first time on Saturday.

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Patrick Kisnorbo faces Cristiano Ronaldo in first game as manager

Elland Road icon Kisnorbo has managed three times already, starting with Melbourne City before moving to France with Troyes and returning down under with Melbourne Victory. Now, he finds himself in Japan.

Last December, Kisnorbo accepted a role to become assistant to Gareth Southgate’s former assistant Steve Holland at Japanese side Yokahama F. Marinos. But after a poor start to the J-League, he was axed.

It has seen Kisnorbo take interim charge of Marinos, who won the J-League under Ange Postecoglou in 2019. His first game, the small matter of an Asian Champions League game against Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.

The game ended in a 4-1 home defeat in which former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran scored twice, Sadio Mane netted once and Ronaldo also got his name on the score sheet with Kisnorbo’s men reduced to 10.

Patrick Kisnorbo remains a cult hero at Leeds United

Think of Kisnorbo during his Leeds days, and you think of the big Aussie defender with strapping around his head and the off ‘Net Flights’ shirt with the blue line on the side. A big player under Simon Grayson.

Signed by Leeds in the summer of 2009, Kisnorbo rejected plastic surgery after a head injury and played a key role in Leeds finishing second in League One and getting promoted, named in the Team of the Year.

Kisnorbo was also a crucial part of the side under Grayson that went to Old Trafford in January 2010 and beat Manchester United, with Jermaine Beckford scoring the only goal of the game in the first half.

He played 34 of his 57 Leeds games that season, remaining on the Leeds books until 2013 but managing only a further 23 appearances across the next three years due to injury. But a key part in that promotion.