‘Leeds United make manager offer to replace Daniel Farke’
Leeds offered Daniel Farke’s job to replacement candidate who has already rejected the approach from the newly promoted side.
Following the Whites’ promotion to the Premier League, rumours quickly emerged that Leeds were looking for potential replacements for Farke.
The German boss had overseen the Yorkshire side’s return to England’s top flight and, with their narrow 2-1 win over Plymouth, confirmed they would be arriving as Championship champions.
However, Farke’s track record in the Premier League is an underwhelming one. In two prior stints in the big time with Norwich, the Canaries have been relegated, finishing 20th on both occasions.
Despite the rumours, Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe told BBC Radio Leeds: “He is my man”, in an attempt to put to bed any doubts over who would be in charge of the side come the start of the 2025/26 season.
But beIN Sports presenter Richard Keys reported in his blog that the Whites’ chairman is responsible for the doubts over Farke’s job, as he offered Jose Mourinho the position before being rejected.
Paraag Marathe offered Jose Mourinho Leeds job
Following Leeds’ promotion party, Keys claimed that speculation of Mourinho taking over at Elland Road had begun as a result of Marathe offering the job to the ex-Chelsea manager (5 May), writing: “Leeds’ chairman Paraag Marathe is quite pleased with himself after publicly backing Daniel Farke ‘I have ended the speculation’ he said. ‘He is my man’.
“What he’s not saying is he started the speculation by offering Farke’s job to Jose Mourinho. I know that for a fact. It was Mourinho who actually ended the speculation by turning the offer down.
“It was a smart move by Marathe. Mourinho would’ve set Elland Road alight and the PL is always better when he’s working in it.
“Sadly Marathe couldn’t convince Mourinho that Leeds won’t be fighting a relegation battle next season. That’s not something the Special One wants. Perhaps he’s right. Perhaps he agrees with Wenger, but it’s a pity.
“Without question Farke has done a terrific job getting Leeds up. He’s become to a [Championship] promotion bid what Big Sam [Allardyce] was to [Premier League] survival, which is why he would’ve walked into another job – at Leicester or Saints perhaps, and done it all over again.
“That’s why we shouldn’t feel too sorry for him. He would definitely have been in a job there next January at those clubs. There are no guarantees he will be at Leeds.”
Daniel Farke likely to review options this summer
Football Insider Verdict
Leeds have now settled for Farke, after being rejected by the “box office” option that is Mourinho.
However, it is difficult to see how the German boss would not take this incident personally.
Farke was brought to Elland Road with the remit of getting promoted and achieved exactly that, albeit a season later than many had hoped.
| Jose Mourinho managerial stats in England | From | To | Win percentage | Trophy count |
| Chelsea | June 2004 | September 2007 | 67.03% | 5 |
| Chelsea | June 2013 | December 2015 | 58.82% | 2 |
| Man United | May 2016 | December 2018 | 58.33% | 2 |
| Tottenham | November 2019 | April 2021 | 51.16% | 0 |
But with news that Leeds were shopping around for a more attractive option, and have been forced to turn back to the German with their tails between their legs, the ex-Norwich boss now holds all the cards.
Safe in the knowledge he has a job as a Premier League manager with the Yorkshire side, Farke may look at what other opportunities come available this summer and see if there is a more attractive landing spot for himself.