Gray wowed by Jose Mourinho to Leeds news – ‘Sorry Daniel, thanks very much’
Daniel Farke has been given no chance of surviving with this Leeds United job in tact if Jose Mourinho is on the table to take over from him.
Leeds confirmed their promotion to the Premier League with a 6-0 win over Stoke on Monday, 21 April.
Having narrowly missed out last year after losing in the play-off final to Southampton, Farke redeemed himself, but that hasn’t been enough to guarantee he will be in charge next year.
The German has a miserable track record in the Premier League, being relegated in his first season with Norwich, then being fired the second time round, with the Canaries going down again.
As a consequence, Leeds are looking at alternative options to Farke and Mourinho has emerged as a candidate to take over at Leeds.
Speaking on beIN SPORTS, presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray discussed the possibility of the Special One taking over at Elland Road.
‘Only one answer’ between Jose Mourinho and Daniel Farke
Although the news of Leeds potentially replacing Farke initially caught former Scotland international Gray off guard, the presenter was in no doubt who he would rather have between the two managers.
Keys said: “With talk of Daniel Farke being fired by Leeds.”
Gray then responded: “What? Come on!”
Keys: “Well, the speculation is that he’s done his job, he’s got them back, but Leeds, the 49ers, and those that are influential in making decisions at Elland Road remember well that he took Norwich up twice and straight back down.
| 2024/25 Championship stats | League rank | Leeds |
| Goals per match | 1st | 2.0 |
| Goals conceded per match | 2nd | 0.7 |
| Expected goals | 1st | 84.8 xG |
| Clean sheets | 2nd | 24 |
| Average possession | 1st | 60.9% |
“And there is some speculation, I’m sure you’ve read it and if you haven’t, that a friend of ours could be on the way back. From Turkey.”
Gray: “Jose?”
Keys: “Yeah, now, that would set Elland Road alight.
“I would have an enormous amount of sympathy for Daniel, who’s done a job and a half there.
“But, if you’re telling me my choice is Daniel Farke or Jose Mourinho, I know which way I’m going.”
Gray: “I know, sorry Daniel, thanks very much. No I’m sorry! There’s only one answer.”
Leeds could start trend for promoted clubs with Daniel Farke firing
Football Insider Verdict
Farke’s potential firing as Leeds manager may just be the start of a new trend for promoted teams.
If the German is let go, it will be an incredibly harsh decision but as has been noted, his previous stints in the Premier League have been truly dismal.
Leeds this season have been remarkable, scoring an astonishing 89 goals in 44 games. The second-highest scorers in the Championship are Norwich, with 67.
Scott Parker has turned Burnley into a team primed to play in England’s top tier, built with a strong defensive core in mind and thriving at breaking quickly.
But Leeds are designed to dominate the ball and be the favourites in each game they play, Southampton and Vincent Kompany’s Clarets proved that is not a formula for surviving in the Premier League.
As such, teams may look to find a manager with the traits to play brilliant attacking football, before finding a more defensive replacement after achieving promotion.
Firing Farke may backfire horribly, the Leeds playing squad may react very negatively to him being replaced. But if it works, it may become a formula for long-term success.