Despite having a stellar Championship record with Norwich City, was Daniel Farke ever the right man for Leeds United? That’s the question many Whites fan are now pondering.
One minute, Daniel Farke is a genius. The next he’s a villain. Right now he’s the latter after watching his Leeds United side draw 2-2 against Swansea City last time out, throwing away what was not so long ago a five point lead at the top of the Championship table.
Now, the Whites are in 2nd. Sheffield United are two points clear at the top whilst Burnley in 3rd are level on points with Leeds after that draw against Swansea City, for which Leeds United fans blame Illan Meslier as much as they do Farke.
| 1 | Sheffield Utd | 39 | 26 | 7 | 6 | 56 | 29 | 27 | 83 |
| 2 | Leeds | 39 | 23 | 12 | 4 | 78 | 27 | 51 | 81 |
| 3 | Burnley | 39 | 22 | 15 | 2 | 53 | 11 | 42 | 81 |
But given the quality within his ranks at Elland Road, the fact that Farke doesn’t have Leeds well clear at the top of the Championship table is a worrying one, and what’s frustrating is that Leeds United passed up on some promising managers to hire the German in 2023.
Here are the five managers who Leeds United snubbed in favour of hiring Farke, and how they’re all faring now…
Steve Cooper
After leaving Nottingham Forest in December 2023, Steve Cooper was linked with just about every job going. Even when he was still in the dugout at the City Ground, he was being linked with moves elsewhere.
Leeds United were considering Cooper before they hired Farke but the Welshman would remain with Forest until his sacking, biding his time before taking charge of Leicester City in June 2024 where he lasted just 15 games, winning four until he was sacked.
Patrick Vieira
Former Arsenal hardman Patrick Vieira was hot property on the management scene at one point, eventually snapped up by Crystal Palace in 2021 where he lasted two years, leaving in March 2023 and then being linked with the Leeds United job soon after.
But just two days before Leeds United appointed Farke, Viera would take charge of Strasbourg in Ligue though that proved a short-lived stint. He’s now managing Genoa who coincidentally were linked with Patrick Bamford in the January transfer window. Vieira’s Genoa side sit 12th in the Serie A table.
Scott Parker
Scott Parker is another name who’s always linked with the top Championship jobs when he’s available, with previous promotions to his name as Fulham and Bournemouth manager. Now he’s eyeing up a third with Burnley who are on an incredible 26 game unbeaten run in the Championship.
Often lamented for his boring style of play, there’s no denying that Parker boasts a good record at Championship level with as many promotions as Farke, and he could yet get one over his Leeds United counterpart this season.
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Steven Gerrard
After his title-winning stint at Rangers, then his mixed spell in charge at Aston Villa, Steven Gerrard was among the candidates for the Elland Road job in 2023. Thankfully, in the eyes of many Leeds United fans, the Whites didn’t hire Gerrard.
He instead took charge of Saudi side Al-Ettifaq in July 2023, leaving in January 2025 with a record of 23 wins in 59 games. In a recent interview, the 44-year-old former Liverpool and England man has said he’ll be back in the dugout sooner or later.
Carlos Corberan
Leeds United’s former no.2 during the Marcelo Bielsa years, Carlos Corberan would go on to make his name as Huddersfield Town manager, then as West Brom manager whom he had sitting nicely in the play-offs for the bulk of the first half of this season.
Reports back in 2023 stated that Leeds United were interested in a reunion with Corberan but he stayed at The Hawthorns. Now though, Corberan is back in his native Spain with Valencia who sit in 15th place of the La Liga table.
Since Valencia appointed Corberan in December last year, he’s taken seven wins from 15 games in charge.
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