(Credit Imago)

George Overhill

Tue 22 April 2025 13:34, UK

Leeds United could thank Daniel Farke for getting them promoted back to the Premier League and sack him anyway on the basis of his poor record in the top flight.

Their 6-0 demolition of Stoke City on 21 April, followed by Burnley’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United later in the day, the Whites have secured automatic promotion under the German, having lost to Southampton in the play-off final a year earlier.

It is Farke‘s third Championship promotion, achieving the feat twice as Norwich City boss before seeing the Canaries relegated both times as they finished bottom, and he was sacked as manager the second time around.

Now, Gabby Agbonlahor has raised the “savage” possibility that Leeds might pre-empt a similar fate in 12 months’ time by removing Farke and replacing him with a top level manager this summer, with major moves expected already including a return for fan-favourite Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City.

The Elland Road boss’ has come in for heavy criticism from his own fans at times over the past two seasons, not least when a recent wobble saw fears of a second-straight slip into the play offs emerge, prior to Sheffield United’s own implosion as the Whites righted their own ship.

49ers Enterprises tipped to remove ex-Norwich City boss

Former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor made the argument to Ally McCoist live on talkSPORT, saying: “I was thinking about it last night, Daniel Farke’s done a great job getting Leeds United up, but we’re in a ruthless, ruthless industry.

“Do Leeds change their manager for the Premier League? Listen, I know it’s ruthless, but Daniel Farke’s record in the Premier League, 52 games, nine wins, 30 defeats. Conceded 101 goals, score 31.

“I’m just saying, do Leeds want to stay up this time? Daniel Farke hasn’t done it in the Premier League, he’s struggled as a manager. I’m just saying, you know how ruthless football can be Ally.

“Look at the players, we all go through the Leeds players and say… how many Leeds players are going to start getting the news in the next week that they’re not needed next year. They’ll do it to players that have got them there, and say, ‘Listen, thanks for getting us to the Premier League but we’re ok now thanks, we need to get better players’.

“It’s a savage industry. Do they say, ‘There’s a top manager available that can take Leeds into the Premier League now and keep them in there’? That’s not me trying to cause [trouble], it could be an option, you never know.”

Farke emulates Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds

Football Insider Verdict

It would undoubtedly seem harsh to dispense with Farke’s services after close to 200 Championship points over two years in charge and emulating Marcelo Bielsa’s work in taking the club up, although there is a solid argument for it.

To do so would likely divided sections of the fanbase, dependent on the possible replacement at Elland Road – if Jose Mourinho was drafted in from Fenerbahce it would indicate Leeds mean business back in the Premier League.

The 48-year-old has ultimately done what he was appointed to do. Firstly, to provide some stability in the wake of the chaotic summer of 2023 which saw Andrea Radrizzani depart in the wake of relegation and four managers over the previous year. And secondly, to take the Whites back up.

He was chosen as a Championship specialist on the strength of his history with Norwich, so it is impossible that 49ers Enterprises won’t also have taken notice of the other side of his record after succeeding in the second tier.

The American owners have big ambitions for Leeds United, despite their involvement in the impending takeover at Rangers and, following the dismal showing from Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich this season, an immediate return to the Championship is not part of the plan.

Agbonlahor is clearly doing more than simply asking questions but his point is far from outrageous in the circumstances, so a change in the dugout would be no shock over the coming months, despite Farke’s good work this term.