With Daniel Farke’s future firmly under the microscope at Leeds United, new names are being linked with the Elland Road hot seat and the latest to be touted with the job is Gary O’Neil.
At the beginning of the week, following the defeat to Man City, reports said that the 49ers would sack Daniel Farke if he suffered losses to both Liverpool and Chelsea. Leeds face Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Same script. Different club. Surely, Daniel Farke’s time is up? 👇
We definitely have a chance [of survival]. It’s a long marathon. The longer we work together, the better we will be as a team. I can’t guarantee we’ll stay in the league but don’t write us off.
Plenty of managers have been linked this week, with Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou touted with the job since Farke’s future came into question. Then, Hungarian icon Zsolt Low was offered to the club.
However, on Wednesday, reports emerged that Leeds were considering a move to hire Gary O’Neil as a replacement for Farke. O’Neil has been out of work since leaving Wolves midway through 2024-25.
What Gary O’Neil told Jamie Carragher about his next job
O’Neil impressed as manager of both Bournemouth and then Wolves, before a tricky bit of form saw him relieved as Molineux gaffer in December 2024. In his 88 Premier League games as a gaffer, he’s won 25.
Speaking to Sky Sports during a Monday Night Football clash between West Ham and Brentford on October 20, O’Neil told Jamie Carragher he would be focusing on set-pieces in his next job as manager.
“The next time I get in, Jamie, we’ll do this (set-pieces) every day. We’ll find time to do this every day on the training pitch because it’s such a big part and the detail of it and how much you have to do on it.”
Would you take Gary O’Neil at Leeds? 🤔
Gary O’Neil and Daniel Farke’s Premier League stats compared
Much has been made of Farke’s struggles in the Premier League. Just six wins in 49 games as Norwich manager before he was eventually sacked at Carrow Road, despite beating Brentford, back in 2021.
A lack of backing in the transfer market was the reason given for Farke’s struggles. This time around, Farke has been backed somewhat but perhaps still not to the level that he wanted, or indeed, needed.
| Name | PL Clubs | PL Games | W-D-L | PPG |
| Daniel Farke | Leeds Norwich | 62 | 9-10-43 | 0.60 |
| Gary O’Neil | Wolves Bournemouth | 88 | 25-16-47 | 1.03 |
What is clear, is that O’Neil has performed better in the Premier League, averaging more than a point a game during his 88 games in England’s top flight. Does he have what it takes to keep Leeds up?
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