’49ers face manager rejections at Leeds United after Daniel Farke sack’
Leeds United and 49ers Enterprises could be faced with a struggle to replace Daniel Farke this summer with managers tipped to be wary of their approach to key matters at Elland Road.
Leeds are now just one win away from confirming the Championship title, following their 4-0 demolition of Bristol City on Monday night (28 April).
However, whilst the German manager could be seen jumping up and down with his players as the promotion party began at Elland Road, the mood may shift in the coming days and weeks.
Leeds are reportedly looking at potential replacements for Farke, given his previous poor showings in the Premier League following a pair of promotions with Norwich.
According to The Guardian, that may be easier said than done, as several issues have appeared with their ambitious Premier League plans.
49ers Enterprises’ data-led approach a concern for managers
According to The Guardian report 49ers Enterprises’ determination to take charge of player recruitment through a data-led approach may be not be accepted by many managers.
Whilst the approach is slowly becoming the norm at the highest level of football, some coaches, it is suggested, would still prefer a more hands-on approach with recruitment.
Alongside that, Farke’s remaining two years on his current deal add to the complication of replacing him.
The German would reportedly be due a year’s salary in compensation if dismissed, and with Leeds potentially facing issues remaining PSR compliant, financial options may be limited for the Yorkshire club.
The Whites will be forced to focus on out of work alternatives, or managers available for limited compensation.
“Initial soundings” have been made to former Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst, former Bayer Leverkusen man Roger Schmidt and Davide Ancelotti, Carlo Ancelotti’s son and current assistant at Real Madrid.
The first two are out of work whilst Ancelotti is expected to leave the Santiago Bernabeu this summer when his father departs the club.
Leeds should stick with Daniel Farke if options are limited
Football Insider Verdict
The stick that is being used to beat Farke relates to his failings as a Premier League manager, which makes Van Bronckhorst, Schmidt, and Ancelotti such puzzling alternatives.
The Dutchman, for instance, has not had a successful season in management since the 2018/19 season when he won the Eredivisie in charge of Feyenoord.
Whilst a monumental success, Van Bronckhorst has followed that up with failed stints in China, Scotland, and, most recently, Turkey.
Schmidt has a more formidable resume, taking charge of Leverkusen, PSV, and Benfica to name a few, but the German’s best stints have come when in charge of a big fish in a small pond, something Farke has similarly had levied against him.
Finally, Ancelotti seems like a very rogue option. The Italian could very well thrive given the experience picked up from working under his father, but it seems an immense risk to throw him in at the deep end of a Premier League relegation battle as his first ever job in management.
If these are the options available to Leeds, it looks like it would be advisable to move on from the idea of replacing Farke, and instead the 49ers would be well advised to start looking at recruitments to bolster the German boss’ squad this summer.