This summer was arguably the biggest of Daniel Farke’s career. This is his third time having a crack at the Premier League and potentially his last.
If things go awry once again, he risks becoming a boss with a record quite unappealing for a top tier club. There is no doubting his ability to conquer the Championship. May saw him lift his third second-tier title after 100 points set a new Leeds United club record.
The idea of him being replaced this summer was unfair and caused anger among large portions of the fan base. Farke deserves a shot at the big time after rebuilding a club that was fractured upon relegation in 2023.
The manager has several times underlined that Leeds have only enjoyed two Championship promotions during the Premier League era and that such an accomplishment ought not to be viewed as a given. Supporters who watched the scenes at Wembley in the 2024 play-off final know that all too well.
At the same time, the 49ers have made it clear that they wish for Leeds to become a Premier League regular once again - something Farke clearly desires too. He has spoken how the emotion he saw in the faces of fans during the bus parade only further fuelled the fire to carry this out.
In the midst of an emotional fan base, Farke has been the cool head. The draw with Luton Town was probably the best example of that last season. Leeds slipped to third with a handful of games to go, following a calamitous Illan Meslier display against Swansea City.
Whites fans were feeling nervous but Farke by then had already stated he was “100%” confident his team would be playing in the Premier League next season. The German is always measured in his comments but this was a rare forthright vow.
Such a bold statement was heard again on Saturday ahead of the final two days of the transfer window. He outlined that without a new attacker, the task to stay up would be “difficult”. As we now know, none came in.
The coach will doubtless reinstate his faith into his frontline options in Thursday’s press conference and admittedly, his weekend thesis may have been as much a message to the board as the fans. But he is not wrong.
From here on in, without the added reinforcement, the task to stay up becomes tricky. Only one league goal has been scored so far and that was from the penalty spot. That has to change soon.
His Norwich City sides struggled in front of goal in the top tier but this time, a lot more money has been spent on the team. More than £100million has been splashed, with £17m spent on left winger Noah Okafor.
Noah Okafor of Leeds United poses as he is unveiled as new signing at Elland Road Stadium.
Noah Okafor of Leeds United poses as he is unveiled as new signing at Elland Road Stadium. (Image: Malcolm Bryce/Leeds United FC via Getty Images)
While Dominic Calvert-Lewin was a free agent, his wages are hefty and have contributed to the reality that Leeds have maxed out their PSR limits, as Paraag Marathe said the club would do back in May.
Farke's Premier League stints with Norwich ended in relegation and then dismissal. He became the first ever manager to lose 15 straight Premier League games, across the two campaigns in the top flight.
Farke has since said keeping the Canaries up would have been a "miracle" and has suggested he felt obliged to carry out his duties despite the perilous odds. That has tainted his CV as a result.
Either way, with nuance often overlooked in football, that does mean this year is probably his final chance to manage a Premier League side. In the future, he may indeed face greater risk of being shown the door upon a Championship promotion campaign.
The only way he can turn that around is by keeping Leeds from Premier League relegation - a feat he has never achieved before.
If he does do it, it will be the highest-echelon achievement of his career. The club always comes first, but for Farke personally, he will want to be seen than more than just a second-tier conqueror.
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