Manager

Leeds United appointed Daniel Farke as the club’s current manager in July 2023 to replace Sam Allardyce. The Whites targeted the German because of his Championship title record.

Farke agreed to take over at Elland Road on an initial four-year contract following the West Yorkshire outfit’s relegation.

Allardyce was unable to prevent Leeds from bowing out of the Premier League during his brief tenure after Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia’s previous reigns.

Leeds identified Farke as the man to guide the club back into the big time having lifted two Championship titles with Norwich City. Something he finally achieved at the second attempt with Leeds in 2025.

The Whites coveted his arrival at Elland Road as the club feared another 16 years in the lower-tier wilderness like endured from 2004 until 2020.

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke’s past coaching career

Having two Championship titles on his CV stood out to Leeds as they considered appointing Farke as their latest manager.

The Whites and Allardyce had mutually agreed to separate in June 2023. Elland Road chiefs felt a parting of the ways was beneficial after their relegation.

Farke being a free agent gave further fuel to Leeds’ admiration of the German tactician.

The Buren-Steinhausen native had also left Borussia Monchengladbach in June 2023 following a season at the Bundesliga team. Die Fohlen fired the coach after losing 14 of their 36 games.

Borussia-Park chiefs felt Farke’s position was untenable after ending the German top-flight season in just 10th place.

The gaffer only oversaw 11 wins in 34 league fixtures to 13 losses. His teams further conceded 55 goals to their 52 scored, only rising to 62 in all competitions.

A chance to coach Borussia Monchengladbach had marked a step up from his previous role at FK Krasnodar.

It also afforded Farke a swift return to the dugout after leaving the Russian side without overseeing a single game.

Krasnodar had hired Farke during the Russian Premier Liga’s winter break in January 2022. Yet he walked away that March before taking charge at Borussia-Park in June 2022.

His first match in charge of Die Fohlen was also his first since Norwich fired him in November 2021.

Daniel Farke won two Championship titles with Norwich City

Norwich called time on Farke’s tenure at Carrow Road straight after he oversaw a 2-1 win at Brentford.

Despite the result, the Canaries felt they still had to make a change as it followed a run of 10 games without a win. They sat bottom of the Premier League through 11 matches.

Farke had taken Norwich back into the top flight as Championship champions once again in 2020/21.

His Canaries crew claimed the crown with 97 points from 29 wins and 10 draws in 46 matches. Norwich had won the 2018/19 title with 94 points from 27 wins and 13 draws.

In total, Farke enjoyed 208 games at Carrow Road over his four-year tenure as the manager of Norwich.

He took over the Norfolk outfit in May 2017 from Borussia Dortmund’s B-Team as Alex Neil’s permanent successor. Norwich won 88 of his 208 games in charge altogether.

Taking over Norwich marked Farke’s first coaching role outside of his native Germany in the current Leeds manager’s career.

SV Lippstadt 08 first gave the tactician a seat in a dugout in April 2009. He stayed at their helm until June 2015 before BVB gave him their B-team role.

Farke also served as the sporting director throughout his time at Lippstadt. He even led the Stadion Am Bruchbaum outfit from the amateur Westfalenliga, Germany’s sixth tier, to the Regionalliga West, the fourth tier. It was a successful homecoming for the ex-Lippstadt star.

Daniel Farke’s coaching career

• Leeds United (July 2023 – June 2027 expected)
• Borussia Monchengladbach (June 2022 – June 2023)
• FK Krasnodar (January 2022 – March 2022)
• Norwich City (July 2017 – November 2021)
• Borussia Dortmund II (November 2015 – June 2017)
• SV Lippstadt 08 (April 2009 – June 2015)

Daniel Farke’s playing career

Leeds manager Farke taking charge of Lippstadt in 2009 marked a homecoming for their ex-striker.

The German enjoyed three stints at the club during his 14-year senior playing career that started at SC Paderborn 07. He enjoyed much of his youth career at SV Steinhausen 08.

Farke left his hometown Steinhausen in 1994 but struggled to establish his presence at the first-team level with Paderborn.

So, he left the club in 1997 and the attacker forged his first connection with Lippstadt. Although he would later depart for SV Wilhelmshaven in 2003.

A spell with Bonner SC also followed in 2005 before Farke returned to Lippstadt only to sign for SV Meppen in 2006.

It would be another short-lived adventure as Farke left the Hansch-Arena in 2007. Lippstadt later welcomed him back once again after one year out in the cold.

Retirement ultimately beckoned in 2008 as Farke called time on a career he spent jumping around the German lower tiers.

The highlight of the current Leeds manager’s playing career was the 2002/03 Oberliga Westfalen term as Farke finished as the top scorer with 28 goals.

His exploits convinced Wilhelmshaven to swoop for Farke’s signature in 2003.

He ended his maiden Oberliga Nord campaign with 23 goals in 29 games. But Farke returned to Lippstadt as their manager and sporting director to achieve greatness with their string of promotions.

Daniel Farke at Leeds United

Farke faced a daunting first summer in charge of Leeds after taking over at Elland Road on the back of their relegation.

The German had to put out fires left, right and centre as clubs activated release clauses in the contracts of several of the Whites’ most important players.

He even had Wilfried Gnonto handing in a written transfer request, whilst refusing to play, amid transfer interest from Everton.

It was far from the ideal situation. But Farke managed to win one and draw three of his first five Championship matches as the manager of Leeds.

After turning the ship around, it appeared as though a push for an immediate promotion was on the cards.

The Whites fell painfully short, though, forcing them through the play-offs, which have so often caused heartache.

Farke’s side cruised past his former club Norwich over the two matches, but a defeat to Southampton in the final at Wembley Stadium meant another year in the Championship.

Thankfully, there was no Play-off drama this year as Leeds roared to the Championship title with 100 points, becoming the seventh team to do so.

They were pushed hard by Burnley, who missed out on goal difference after becoming the first team to get 100 points and not win the league.

Leeds did threaten to throw it away during a worrying wobble in March but Farke ensured everyone kept their cool to get back to winning ways when it mattered most.

The Whites secured promotion on Easter Monday after defeating Stoke City 6-0 and then watching Sheffield United lose at Burnley.

Then, Manor Solomon’s dramatic, last-gasp winner on the final day clinched the title.

Despite the triumph, Farke’s job did come into question over fears he won’t be able to keep Leeds up but chairman Paraag Marathe has now backed the manager publicly. He will be in charge in the Premier League.