Daniel Farke handed new Leeds United contract verdict ahead of big 49ers call — Leeds Live 29/5/26
Daniel Farke has won supporters over with his exploits at Leeds United this season
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
Daniel Farke proved critics wrong this season, shrugging off
the doubts about his ability to keep Leeds United in the Premier League.
The manager appeared to be on the brink in November before a
dramatic U-turn amid a switch to a back three formation changed the club’s
fortunes and ultimately his own reputation.
Reports that broke last year suggested those in the 49ers
hierarchy had concerns about Farke’s chances of securing safety for Leeds and
pondered over replacing him, despite having just won the Championship title by
a club record points.
Whether accurate speculation or not, Farke had a point to
prove back in England’s top flight, to the wider football community but also to
some Leeds supporters themselves with angst in the fanbase over Farke’s Premier
League acumen following relegation and then dismissal in his two Premier League
campaigns at cash-stricken Norwich City.
Another worry was Farke’s ability and will to be flexible
when the situation required, with Leeds going from being dominant with the ball
in the Championship to having to be attritional and clinical in the Premier
League.
This, he did manage to do. His flexibility was of course
most notable in his back three base formation change. But his decisions to be
more attacking and show bravery by reverting back to a back four during matches
ultimately saw Leeds come from behind to claim points.
Having been aided by fantastic recruitment largely based on
a transfer criteria of height and bulk, as well as skills, Farke utilised
set-pieces without neglecting his in-play attacking intent via wing-backs and
wide number 10s.
He also made some bold calls by dropping summer signing
Lucas Perri and being unafraid to leave sole January arrival Facundo Buonanotte
out of squads. In the end, Leeds secured survival with three games to go having
made some memories on the way.
The win at Manchester United - the first in the league at
Old Trafford for 45 years - stands out, while also going unbeaten against
Liverpool and Chelsea in the league and reaching the club’s first FA Cup final
for 39 years were terrific feats.
As a result, Farke has won around fan favour and wider
public opinion. Whether he used this position to deliver comments about needing
to be ‘convinced’ of the next phase at Leeds and the desire to be ‘ambitious’
is in the eye of the beholder.
But few disagreed with what he said and the 49ers will not
have taken issue with any of what he stated in his pre-Brighton press
conference. Discussions about future planning started the day after safety was
sealed and continue to roll on.
The undertone of it all is that Farke is about to enter the
final year of his contract and it would seem unlikely the subject does not get
broached in the boardroom this summer. Leeds Live asked fans to vote on whether
Farke should be handed a new deal.
Here are the results.
Yes - 88%
No - 22%
