The 2024/25 season saw Leeds United dominate the Championship and earn promotion back to the Premier League. The Whites amassed 100 points and comfortably scored the most goals in the league, with 95 to their name. It unsurprisingly earned them the title.
Yet, life back in the Premier League has not gone well for Daniel Farke’s side. They’ve got 11 points so far in as many matches, and have only managed to win one of their last six games, which came against fellow strugglers West Ham United at Elland Road.
It might not come as a surprise, then, that Farke’s job is under threat.
The latest on Farke’s future
The start to the season by Leeds has been nothing short of a disappointment. Farke came close to being sacked in the summer despite their success, but club chairman Paraag Marathe said “he is my man,” thus making it clear he will stay.
Daniel-Farke
After being backed in the summer, it has simply not been the season the Elland Road faithful might have wanted. With such a low points tally and just 10 goals scored in 11 games this term, a sacking may be inevitable.
Well, a recent report from the Daily Mail suggests that it is crunch time for the German. Before their 3-1 loss away to Nottingham Forest at the weekend, it was reported that Leeds’ 'next five fixtures could well determine' Farke’s future at the club.
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Of course, that did not start in an ideal fashion, with the Whites putting in a lacklustre performance at the City Ground.
The fixtures after the international break could be the final nails in the coffin for Farke. Leeds play Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool in that time.
Leeds' next 4 Premier League games
Opponent
Aston Villa
Manchester City
Chelsea
Liverpool
Information from Transfermarkt
If those games go how many think they will, Farke could well be sacked. Leeds might well have their next manager lined up.
Leeds’ next manager after Farke
It is hard to see Leeds getting any points from their next four games, thus meaning Farke is removed from his post. The same Daily Mail report tips former Forest boss Ange Postecoglou to be a possible replacement.
The Australian was described as someone who could be a 'welcome appointment' for the Elland Road faithful.
Of course, Postecoglou has been out of work since last month after he was sacked by Forest. Before that, he had two seasons at Tottenham Hotspur, where he won the Europa League but did see them to a 17th-place Premier League finish.
Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou looks dejected after the match
The one-time Celtic hero favours a 4-3-3 system, which would suit Leeds, given the way they have shaped their squad.
Having Ethan Amapdu as a single pivot, with Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff ahead of him, and pacy, direct wingers, could be dangerous in transition.
sean-longstaff-leeds
However, Postecoglou is known for being a 100 miles an hour coach. His infamous high line landed him in a lot of hot water at Spurs, with a 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea seeing his defenders step up to the halfway line.
In some ways, the football that Postecoglou plays at Elland Road might remind Leeds fans of legendary manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Former Chelsea and Arsenal defender William Gallas said the “demands remind me a little bit of Marcelo Bielsa” because of how “physically exhausting” the football can be.
bielsa-leeds-championship-premier-league-manager
Indeed, with all the running required in Postecoglou’s system, due to covering such large spaces when you lose the ball, it will take a lot of energy.
That is similar to Bielsa, famed for his high-octane football, who even built a running track at the Leeds training ground.
It would be an interesting appointment to say the least, given the physical demands Postecoglou would put on his players.
He can come up with some “mental” ideas, according to Australian international Jackson Irvine, but he could have the potential to keep the Whites up, against all the odds.