Daniel Farke's Leeds transformation after 12 big-name exits and new NFL owners
Leeds appointed the perfect man when they brought Daniel Farke back from Germany to lead them.
Having won the Championship title in 2019 and 2021 with Norwich, he has the perfect CV when it comes to guiding teams back to the Premier League. Of course, staying there is another issue and Norwich finished rock bottom of the Premier League in 2020 and Farke was sacked by the Canaries in November 2021, ironically after registering his first win of the season.
What cannot be disputed is the job Farke has done since he arrived at Leeds on July 4. Leeds were in a total mess when he arrived and the club had gone through three managers in four months in a vain attempt to avoid relegation.
Over 12 big names left, either on loan or were sold, as the club were forced to slash their wage bill. Tyler Adams, Rodrigo, Robin Koch, Diego Llorente, Rasmus Kristensen, Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra, Marc Roca and Max Wober - a veritable Who’s Who of Leeds - all went.
Several players had clauses in their contracts that they could leave on loan if Leeds went down and this has cost the club transfer fees because Koch has agreed to join Eintracht Frankfurt on a free in the summer. But the deals helped preserve Leeds in that critical moment and the club’s new owners, the 49ers Enterprises, have the cash to make an impression in the Premier League next season - if they go up.
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Farke had to manage what was left and Daniel James returned from his loan spell at Fulham, while Ethan Ampadu, Sam Byram, Joel Piroe, Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev have all proved to be shrewd signings. Farke still had to deal with tantrums and Italy striker Wilfried Gnonto downed tools in a failed effort to force through a move to Everton and life was far from easy for the German.
Leeds are chasing a swift return to the Premier League (PA)Leeds endured a sticky start and took just two points from their first three games. But Farke has turned them around and made Elland Road a fortress again. Leeds are unbeaten at home and have won 12 of their 16 Championship matches in front of their own fans.
The supporters have reconnected with the club, a crucial factor that was lost under Jesse Marsch and Javier Gracia before going totally under the low of Sam Allardyce's brief spell in charge. Farke has made Leeds a potent attacking force and Crysencio Summerville is their top scorer with 16 goals, while Piroe has 11 and James 10.
Patrick Bamford has been relegated to the bench for much of this season, but he has still weighed in with five goals to show what he can still do. Ampadu has helped shore up their defence, which leaked goals last season, and they have conceded just one in their last eight league games.
Chuck in the emergence of Archie Gray as a force at the tender age of 17, and there are positives all over the park for Leeds. Farke has masterminded everything this season and winning promotion with Leeds, against the backdrop of such a chaotic summer, would arguably be his finest achievement yet.
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