Back in the summer of 2023, Leeds United made the sensible decision to hire Daniel Farke. It made sense; the German had two Championship titles under his belt, and it eventually paid off.
Two years after Leeds made the safe, yet slightly underwhelming decision to hire Farke, he secured his third Championship title. But back in the Premier League, it’s all too familiar a feeling for the German.
Having come into the Premier League with Leeds after just six wins in 49 games with Norwich, Farke has only been able to add three top-tier wins in 12 attempts. Five defeats in six has Farke under pressure.
The 49ers are spoilt for choice… but who would you pick as Leeds United’s next manager?
LeedsUnited.News understands that the 49ers are considering whether to sack Farke, but are keen to avoid any knee-jerk decisions. As things stand, Farke will be in the dugout when Leeds go to Man City.
But it could have been very different. A World Cup winner was desperate to take over at Leeds after Jesse Marsch had been sacked, and re-emerged as a frontrunner in the summer before Leeds appointed Farke.
Patrick Vieira is available and ready to go after Genoa departure
Vieira was a leading candidate for the Leeds job back in the summer of 2023, after reports had emerged Vieira was looking at the Leeds job enviously while still in the Selhurst Park dugout at Crystal Palace.
Now, Vieira is without a club after he was sacked by Genoa at the start of the month. Coming into the new season, Vieira had won eight of 26 matches in charge of the Italian side, losing only nine matches.
But this season, things didn’t go to plan for the 1998 World Cup winner. He lost six of nine league games and drew the other three, albeit three of those losses were to Lazio, Juventus and champions Napoli.
Two wins in the Coppa Italia did not save Vieira, who was sacked. Perhaps slightly harsh, Vieira was relieved of his duties at the start of the month and is now looking for his next role as a manager.
Pundits and journalists pile the pressure on Daniel Farke…
Jack Harrison would be delighted with Patrick Vieira appointment
Clearly, Vieira has admirers among the 49ers having been a frontrunner to replace Sam Allardyce a little over two years ago. Perhaps, because of his time as manager of MLS giants New York City in the past.
He managed Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, Frank Lampard and a certain Jack Harrison. Harrison once said: “It was a real honour to play with those three and be coached by Vieira. I will always be grateful for that.”
| Name | PL clubs managed | PL games | W-D-L | Points | PPG |
| Daniel Farke | Leeds Norwich | 61 | 9-10-42 | 37 | 0.61 |
| Patrick Vieira | Crystal Palace | 65 | 17-24-24 | 75 | 1.15 |
Vieira is available, he has Premier League experience, he has the stature to excite Leeds fans and his style of football is certainly the kind of defensive, pragmatic approach that the 49ers need, if they do axe Farke.
As things stand, the front-runners appear to be Brendan Rodgers and possibly even another Premier League midfield legend like Vieira. Sam Allardyce thinks Steven Gerrard has a chance of becoming boss.
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