Mighty Leeds Weblog

There is a feeling that the rest of the footballing season is going to be little more than a distraction for Rangers fans amid the excitement of a potential takeover by the San Francisco 49ers. A deal is said to be agreed with the 49ers Enterprises finance arm of the NFL giants as they look to take a second dive into “soccer”. A potential dual ownership hitch with Leeds United has a couple of solutions, but one has already been ruled out by a key figure in the Rangers takeover deal – Paraag Marathe. Red Bull have a sizeable stake in the Championship outfit and there have been rumours of a potential sale from 49ers Enterprises. However, speaking to the Financial Times’ Business of Football summit, where Marathe will no doubt be an in-demand figure, the Leeds United chairman said: “That’s not contemplated at all. There is no language to that effect. It’s not something we have discussed ever,” said Marathe about a possible sale to Red Bull. “I can’t really comment on whatever ...

 

Dan Owen Paraag Marathe, chairman of Leeds United and president of the 49ers Enterprises, just seems to ‘get it’. In an era where various owners up and down the land have often been accused to putting profit before success, sidelining the supporters and making baffling decisions which serve only to undermine the entire history of an institution – Cardiff City in red, anyone? – the man at the summit of Elland Road appears very much in tune with what Leeds United represents. Paraag Marathe addressed fears of Leeds becoming ‘Red Bull Leeds’ in the wake of the energy drink giants taking a minority stake last year. A year on, the Red Bull logo on the front of their shirts remains the only visible influence of those taurine-tipped tentacles in West Yorkshire. And, five months after Leeds officially announced plans for an expansion of Elland Road, Marathe has opened up on what the 49ers will look to change. And, crucially, what the 49ers will look to keep. It will be a bigger Ella...

Will Butcher Reports emerged on Wednesday that Angus Kinnear is set to leave his post as Leeds United’s chief executive and join Everton at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. Angus Kinnear has been through the thick and thin of it with Leeds over the majority of the last decade. Joining Leeds in 2017, the former Arsenal and West Ham man helped bring Marcelo Bielsa to Leeds. He has been a part of the Andrea Radrizzani regime and stayed on after the takeover of The 49ers, with Kinnear seen as a crucial cog in the running of Leeds. He has also played his part in sacking managers. It appears Kinnear’s Leeds spell is near an end. Everton have made Kinnear their no.1 target to take over as chief executive, with newly-appointed owners The Friedkin Group preparing for a summer overhaul. How well-regarded is Angus Kinnear at Leeds amid Everton news The Toffees were the subject of a £400m takeover at the start of the year and with the new stadium in place, The Friedkin Group – who also...

By Kyle Newbould Leeds United's 2024/25 Championship season will be overseen before the reported switch. Angus Kinnear could be set to leave Leeds United this summer with reports suggesting he is closing in on a move to Everton. Kinnear was first named as a possible target for incoming Everton owners, The Friedkin Group (TFG) last week, with a recruitment agency shortlisting Leeds’ chief executive to fill a similar role on Merseyside. Long-serving club employee Colin Chong has filled the CEO role on a temporary basis for almost two years following Denise Barrett-Baxendale's exit, with a more permanent appointment planned for this summer. The Daily Mail now claim Kinnear looks set to fill that role, having been identified at the ‘number one candidate’ by new-look American owners TFG, therefore calling time on an eight-year period. The 47-year-old is expected to see out the current campaign with Leeds first and foremost, with a desire to oversee promotion and end on a...

By Graham Smyth An heir to a billionaire's fortune swapped the comfort of the directors box for the flailing limbs of the Leeds United away end at Bramall Lane on Monday. The YEP understands that Pete Lowy, who sits on the board at Elland Road, flew to England from Los Angeles for the game against Sheffield United earlier in the week. But Lowy eschewed the more familiar surrounds and comfy seats afforded to visiting directors to take his place among the rank and file for the 3-1 win, accompanied by CEO Angus Kinnear. Leeds came from behind and scored two late, late goals to spark wild scenes in the H.E Barnes Stand behind the Blades' net where Lowy was among the 2,688 Whites supporters. Some Leeds fans spilled out of the stand onto the ground behind the goal as they celebrated Ao Tanaka and Joel Piroe's 89th and 90th minute goals, as the entire lower half of that end of the stadium became a sea of limbs. The win created a five-point gap between Leeds and their hosts, ...

Angus Kinnear is closing in on a switch from Leeds to Everton this summer By MIKE KEEGAN Angus Kinnear, the Leeds United chief executive, is set to join Everton - but not until the end of the season. Mail Sport understands that Kinnear is closing in on a switch across the Pennines as new owners The Friedkin Group (TFG) seek to rebuild as the club moves to its new stadium this summer. They are keen to hire a CEO to oversee a new era for the Toffees as soon as possible, ahead of what is expected to be a busy transfer window. However, the former West Ham and Arsenal executive is thought to be keen to stay at Elland Road and oversee Leeds’ promotion to the Premier League before he departs. Leeds are currently top of the Championship and seven points clear of third place with 12 matches to play. Kinnear has an open-ended contract in Yorkshire. Talks would need to take place between the two clubs over his exit. However, the 47-year-old has been identified as the No 1 candidate ...

By Danny Hall Chris Wilder sets Sheffield United challenge after Leeds United result dents title ambitions Chris Wilder has challenged his Sheffield United side to bounce back once again after their title hopes were dealt a big blow earlier this week. The Blades looked good value for a huge three points that would have taken them above Leeds United and to the top of the table after going 1-0 up against their rivals on Monday evening, before another late Leeds show saw them salvage victory themselves. That leaves Daniel Farke’s men five points clear of United at the top of the table and seven clear of third-placed Burnley, who closed the gap between themselves and the Blades to just two points by beating Wednesday on Friday evening. The manner of defeat was frustrating for United, with two goals conceded from balls into the box before Joel Piroe’s excellent third from long-range. But there is little time to lick wounds with a tough trip to the capital this weekend to face mid-ta...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United's celebrations at the end of their last two games recognised the significance of the results but Daniel Farke insists nothing has changed. A come-from-behind last-gasp win for the Whites at home to Sunderland all-but took the Black Cats out of the Championship title race, before a loss at Hull City left Regis Le Bris' men well adrift of the top two. One week later Leeds did it again, coming from a goal down to beat Sheffield United 3-1 at Bramall Lane and extend their lead at the top. They now have a five-point cushion between themselves and the Blades, lead Burnley by seven points and Sunderland by 13. Farke, his entire staff and squad gathered together to celebrate with supporters at Elland Road after the win over Sunderland and there was another huddle in front of the away end at Bramall Lane on Monday night as Leeds recognised the significance of their achievements. But Farke's tune is not wavering in the slightest as he tries to dri...

Simon Stone For the second time in two days, a set of jubilant away fans celebrated victory at the home of their rivals by belting out the chant "we're gonna win the league". Like Liverpool fans at Manchester City on Sunday, those Leeds United supporters celebrating a 3-1 comeback win at Bramall Lane over second-placed Sheffield United now believe they will be Championship title winners in May. The symmetry is neat. In 2020, the season halted, delayed and then restarted in front of no supporters because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Liverpool won the Premier League and Leeds won the Championship, returning to the top flight after a 16-year absence. Daniel Farke's side are now five points ahead of Sheffield United, who are in the other automatic promotion place, and seven in front of third-placed Burnley. After Saturday's visit by West Brom to Elland Road, 10 out of Leeds' last 11 games will be against teams outside the top 10. In all likelihood, work wil...

By Graham Smyth Leeds United provided yet more proof of just how serious their title credentials are with second half fightback that brought three points at Sheffield United. The Whites were out of sorts and rattled in the early stages, going behind to an Illan Meslier own goal but having steadied themselves they ground the Blades down and wrestled full control of the game. Junior Firpo's powerful header made it 1-1 and then goals from Ao Tanaka and Joel Piroe broke Bramall Lane hearts in the 89th and 90th minutes. Here's the YEP take. Good day: Daniel Farke. Leeds were already clawing their way back into the game and wearing the hosts down when Farke made the decision to send on Joe Rothwell, but the midfielder helped change it completely. For the second game in succession Rothwell's introduction was key. Starting Ilia Gruev didn't look like the best decision but even if he was forced to watch from the gantry, Farke proved he can make big in-game calls that giv...

By Kyle Newbould Leeds United’s red-hot striker got his customary goal during Monday’s comeback win at Bramall Lane. Joel Piroe was not happy with the lack of service his Leeds United teammates provided during Monday’s 3-1 win at Sheffield United - but all was forgiven when he belted in a customary goal. Piroe scored Leeds’ third and final goal to complete a second comeback in the space of eight days, with Daniel Farke’s side again coming from 1-0 down to win it late on. Junior Firpo cancelled out a first-half Illan Meslier own-goal mid-way through the second-half before Ao Tanaka’s deft header won it on 89 minutes, sending the away end into rapture. Tanaka’s winner came a little earlier than Pascal Struijk’s last week and so there was still time for Leeds to grab a third, with Dan James racing away before a simple pass allowed Piroe the time to rifle an effort beyond Blades goalkeeper Michael Cooper. That’s five in six games for the Dutchman, who was in good spirits post-match...

Dan Murphy Daniel James has revealed that a genius tactical switch from Daniel Farke was crucial to Leeds United defeating Sheffield United. It turns out lightning does strike twice as Leeds United managed to come back from behind to secure a dramatic late victory over a promotion rival wearing red and white stripes for the second time in a week on Monday. Daniel Farke’s side were left shell-shocked early on by a rampant Sheffield United in the top-of-the-table clash and went behind when the clumsy Illan Meslier put the ball into his own net. Leeds were on the ropes for the opening half hour and only some last-ditch defending prevented the Blades from running out of sight. Yet, the Whites slowly managed to get a foothold in the match as the half grew on and after the break, they were the ones on top. Junior Firpo was the hero as his towering header levelled things up and he crossed for Ao Tanaka to score his own header at the death before Joel Piroe sealed the points with a...

By Naveen Ullal Leeds United are in firm contention to secure promotion to the Premier League after missing out last season. The Whites finished third and lost to Southampton in the play-off final last season. They are currently leading the Championship table with 72 points, four points ahead of third placed Burnley with a game in hand. Leeds manager Daniel Farke has given an interview to Kicker and Transfermarkt.de have relayed his comments. He says Leeds are “on a great run at the moment” as they look to return to the Premier League. The German is in his second season at Elland Road and his contract lasts until 2027. Last summer, the English club had to sell some players to balance their books and ended up investing a part of that money to improve the squad. Farke has talked about Leeds’ strategy in the transfer market. “Although the transfer surplus was unusual for Western Europe, it presented us with major challenges,” he said. “After all, the expectations had not cha...

Ethan Ampadu is expected to undergo knee surgery and is a major doubt for the start of Wales' World Cup qualifying campaign at the end of March. Leeds United manager Daniel Farke says his captain will miss their upcoming Championship games with a second serious leg injury of the season. The 24-year-old was sidelined for 10 weeks after injuring his left knee against Coventry in September, and was forced to miss Monday's 3-1 win at Sheffield United with a similar problem on his other leg. "It's probably a serious injury," said Farke. "It's a different knee. It's a bit too early to assess it but it looks like a cartilage injury and it's pretty clear he will need to have surgery in the upcoming days." Ampadu, who plays both in defence and midfield, missed four matches of Wales' autumn Nations League campaign and sat out 12 Leeds games. He now faces missing crucial matches in Leeds' title run-in, plus qualifiers at home against...

Josh Edwards Chris Wilder was waiting in the tunnel for Daniel Farke after Leeds United secured a massive three points at Bramall Lane. Leeds took a huge step towards the Premier League with a 3-1 win against Sheffield United on Monday night, increasing their advantage at the summit of the Championship to five points. The win was almost identical to the one against Sunderland, with the Whites finding themselves 1-0 down before two headed goals in the final 20 minutes flipped the game on its head. Joel Piroe added his 15th goal of the season in added time, making sure Leeds picked up all three points in what may have been the game to decide the title winner. Wilder waits for Farke after Leeds v Sheffield United With just two points separating the teams at the start of the game, Wilder will have been fully aware of the magnitude of the clash, while also being wary of the threat posed by Leeds. It was that threat that defined the result of the game, with Wilder perhaps unexp...

Leeds United have a number of things to celebrate and consider after the win over Sheffield United. Leeds United have a firm grip on the Championship promotion race following their 3-1 win away at Sheffield United on Monday evening. The Whites had a very jittery first 25 minutes with Illan Meslier making a mistake to see the hosts open the scoring on 14 minutes. Leeds weathered the storm and managed to find an equaliser through Junior Firpo on 72 minutes. The away end went wild after Ao Tanaka managed to head home in the 89th minute before Joel Piroe made sure that Sheffield United had no route back in with a powerful strike two minutes later. There are a lot of talking points to take from Monday evening’s events. The gap Leeds still retain their seven point gap to Burnley and the play-offs with the win, with just 12 games now remaining. Farke said in his post-match press conference that technically Leeds are in no better position than they were last week aside from having a ...

Aaron Bower at Bramall Lane The night Leeds United’s season swung decisively, or just another evening in the most unpredictable league in football? Only in May will we know that answer for sure, but the scale of the celebrations from those associated with Leeds here perhaps told you everything you need to know. The popular song aimed in Leeds’ direction when things are going wrong is to decry that Daniel Farke’s side are falling apart. But here, when it mattered most, this team showed that they are anything but one that capitulates in the crucial moments. It looks increasingly like this club and their manager will again be a Premier League side next season. Last week, they dug deep at Elland Road to score twice late on and overturn a losing position against Sunderland. That was monumental, but this was on another level and has ramifications for the whole promotion race, not just Leeds. Having fallen behind after a horrendous error from Illan Meslier, who somehow palmed the ball...

By Graham Smyth If this Leeds United team are not champions then they're doing the damnedest impression. Going 16 unbeaten, winning five in a row, scoring 18 in those five, conceding just two and coming from behind with late, late goals on consecutive Mondays to beat a pair of promotion rivals. If that's not title-winning behaviour then we're about to see the most ‘Leeds, that’ event of all time and something truly special from Sheffield United or Burnley. In truth, Daniel Farke and his players have the league by the scruff of the neck and can decide what happens next. Their fate is very much in their own hands. If the numbers and the results haven't yet suggested strongly enough that this is Leeds United's title to lose, then the faintest air of resignation in the voice of the man closest enough to them in the title race should have been. Chris Wilder watched on in delight as his Blades rattled their visitors good and proper at Bramall Lane in the first 20 ...

Jonathan Wilson Leeds, Sheffield United and Burnley are all vying for Premier League returns but fans will ask if it’s really worth it Tibetan Buddhist monks will spend months working in cold conditions, icing their fingers, enduring significant discomfort, to create gorgeously detailed sculptures out of yak’s butter. And then they will destroy the sculptures, leaving them out in the sun to melt. For anybody connected with a Championship club, the sentiment will be familiar. At some level, most clubs exist to feed those higher up the pyramid. So why would a fan emotionally invest in a young star, even a local one, knowing he is unlikely to hang around for more than two or three years? And if a team are promoted, at least half the side will probably have to be upgraded to offer even a chance of survival. When the gulf between divisions is so vast, everything is fleeting, team-building an act of permanent evolution. What monks do to convey the understanding that life is transient a...

By Graham Smyth Boss Daniel Farke again saw his Whites side fight back to defeat another promotion rival at Bramall Lane. Daniel Farke has expressed his pride at the way his victorious Leeds United side reacted to a 'worst possible' start at Sheffield United. Leeds produced a dramatic late comeback for the second game in succession to deliver another blow to their promotion rivals. This time it was Sheffield United on the wrong end of the Whites' suckerpunch, one week after Sunderland suffered the same fate, as goals in the last 18 minutes from Junior Firpo, Ao Tanaka and Joel Piroe turned the game completely on its head. A poor start from the visitors was compounded when Illan Meslier turned the ball into his own net for a 14th-minute Blades opener. Leeds struggled to deal with the intensity of their hosts and though they began to rally prior to the break they were decidedly second best in the first half. The second half was when Leeds slowly began to take a ...

Whites victorious in the Yorkshire derby. Leeds United produced a stunning second half comeback to defeat Sheffield United away from home, scoring three goals inside the final 20 minutes to claim all three points! Daniel Farke’s side travelled to Bramall Lane for a big Yorkshire derby, facing Chris Wilder’s team who were second in the Sky Bet Championship table. Inside the opening 10 minutes there had been little goalmouth action, until a big moment from a Blades corner. The ball into the box went through a number of bodies and appeared to be going in, but for a superb goal-line clearance from Ilia Gruev. The home side did take the lead though after pinball around the box. Illan Meslier initially made a good save to deny Callum O’Hare and his header rebounded off the bar. Tyrese Campbell hit the post on the follow up, before the ball eventually found a way in for an own-goal. The Whites looked to hit back and had two opportunities. Dan James whipped in a corner which found Gr...

By Stuart Rayner "We're going to win the league," sang the Leeds United fans at full-time, and it was hard not to believe them. Sheffield United threw everything at them in the first half an hour, rocking them on their heels in a way probably no one else has in this season's Championship. But for the second Monday in a row, Pascal Struijk won it late for Leeds at a corner. Goals from flag kicks are rare for Daniel Farke's side, but teams who lift titles have an uncanny habit of winning matches like this. This time Struijk was not the scorer, heading an 88th-minute header across for Ao Tanaka to measure a precise header right into the top corner. Sydie Peck did his best to nod it clear, but could only bounce it in off the crossbar. Joel Piroe lashed in a stoppage-time strike to make it 3-1 but Leeds had done it again, the wider margin of victory disguising how much tougher this had been than the dramatic 2-1 win over Sunderland seven days earlier. The g...