Mighty Leeds Weblog

By Stuart Rayner Manager Daniel Farke has thrown the gauntlet down to Leeds United by making it clear they need to match his ambitions. He rowed back slightly, making it clear he had no intention of leaving, but there was no escaping the theme of a press conference ostensibly to preview Sunday's final Premier League home game of the season, against Brighton and Hove Albion. "I won't take on a season where I'm not convinced the club is heading in the right direction," he stressed. Having claimed to have achieved all the targets the club set him a year before the end of his contract, he challenged them to come up with a new plan which excites him. Farke is speaking from a position of strength, having kept newly-promoted Leeds in the Premier League. He said that when Marcelo Bielsa did that in 2021 Leeds failed to build on it and urged them not to make the same mistake again. "It's important to express my heartfelt gratitude and a big thank you t...

By Graham Smyth Daniel Farke spoke in great detail about Leeds United’s future at Friday’s pre-Brighton press conference. Leeds United boss Daniel Farke says the job he set out to do in 2023 is done so he and the club need to agree new goals this summer. Safety was secured on Sunday thanks to West Ham's loss to Arsenal and Leeds celebrated with a come-from-behind draw at relegation-threatened Spurs on Monday night. Ahead of the penultimate Premier League fixture of the season at home to Brighton Farke was asked about next season and a number of player contract situations. His response was that the first priority had to be talks with the board to decide on their next steps. Farke feels he and the club have come to the end of their first mission and need to agree on the way forward, once the final two games are complete and he has returned home to Germany for a short break. "When I signed the contract here three years ago we spoke about the goals, what we want to ach...

Never Meet Your Enemies Written by: Alan Wheatley They say never meet your heroes,
but what about meeting your enemies? What would you say if you found yourself in a one-on-one conversation with Der Kaiser — Franz Beckenbauer? I’ve often wondered what I should have said. In truth, I’m not sure I’d publish my first instincts. Yet, in the early 2000s, I found myself doing exactly that — spending several unexpected hours in the company of the man who, for many Leeds fans, represents the most controversial night in our football history. I had been living in Dubai since 1998. In mid-2005, my late and very good friend Stuart Priestley introduced me to Beckenbauer as we crossed paths in a Dubai hotel. Stuart and I went back years — both from the same part of Yorkshire, he from Rodley, near my home in Calverley. He had carved out a remarkable role running travel for Leeds United under Ridsdale and O’Leary. For a Leeds supporter, it was as close as you could get to living the dream. ...

By Kyle Newbould Alex Cairns spent almost a decade away from Leeds United before his 2024 return under Daniel Farke. Leeds United goalkeeper Alex Cairns admits the end of his previous Whites stint was ‘horrendous’ and he was informed of his release via letter. Doncaster-born Cairns came through the Leeds academy before turning professional in 2011, acting as back-up for a number of goalkeepers either side of spells on loan at Barrow and Stalybridge Celtic. He made just one appearance during his initial time in West Yorkshire, replacing Paul Rachubka at half-time in a 5-0 defeat to Blackpool. Cairns was inside the Leeds squad during previous owner Massimo Cellino’s first season in charge at Elland Road, after which his contract was due to expire. And speaking on this week’s Official Leeds United podcast, the Whites goalkeeper explained how neither he, nor manager at the time Neil Redfearn, had any idea he’d be let go. “It felt like a shambles. The expectation will always be th...

By Kyle Newbould The American has polarised Leeds United opinion but is enjoying an impressive Premier League return. Leeds United star Brenden Aaronson admits it has been ‘tough’ to deal with boos from his own fans on two separate occasions. Aaronson has come in for regular scrutiny during his four-year spell at Leeds, one of which was spent on loan at Union Berlin in Germany. The American’s work-rate has never even threatened to be questioned but particularly during difficult periods for the team as a whole, frustration has been aimed his way from the stands. Leeds fans made their feelings clear on returning loanees Aaronson and Max Wober at the start of their 2024/25 Championship campaign - albeit the former at least helped himself by addressing his decision to leave in pre-season. The attacking midfielder has now opened up on the mental challenges he faced during that period. “When I decided to come back to Leeds, it was definitely a tough decision,” Aaronson told Sky Spo...

O captain, my captain Words by: Chris McMenamy The English media’s inability to understand what makes Leeds United tick meant that many, if not all, predicted a straightforward home win for Tottenham against a side that had already secured safety without kicking a ball. So imagine their surprise when, with more than an hour played and Spurs leading 1-0, United captain Ethan Ampadu came flying into the opposition penalty area and took an overhead kick to the forehead from Mathys Tel. His team were meant to be on the beach, not in North London trying to ruin Spurs’ season for no reason other than personal pride. Nobody could believe what they were seeing, including the officials who spent four minutes replaying to see if Tel had kicked Ampadu in the head and, if so, why? If this is the length that Leeds United’s number four would go to just to earn a ‘meaningless’ point, there’s no telling what might happen when there’s something on the line. The captain’s role in modern footba...