Of the players who began that game - Farke’s first in charge of the Whites in front of a paying audience - only two still belong to the club. There have been painful exits, inevitable departures and career trajectories that have not yet shown signs of recovery. Among the starters for the game in Oslo at Ullevaal Stadion were players who expected to play a big role under Farke and a number who hoped to stand a chance of involvement with the senior side. There was also a player Leeds desperately hoped to keep for the Championship campaign, before he made a bitterly acrimonious exit. Less than two years on it has been an almost total demolition job for that side.
The game itself in Norway was a largely unremarkable affair. Second-half goals from Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill gave Manchester United a 2-0 win. Before kick-off, club captains Liam Cooper and Raphael Varane paid tribute to the late Gordon McQueen, a former favourite of both clubs, who died a month prior at the age of 70. Fans from both clubs joined to applaud the memory of the ex-St Mirren, Leeds and Manchester United man.
Leeds’ best chance on the day fell to Archie Gray, who at that stage was still just a prospect for the club and had not yet made a senior competitive appearance. Farke rang 10 changes in all at the break bringing on the likes of Gray, Pascal Struijk, Daniel James and Patrick Bamford but even the second half side was littered with names no longer employed by the club. As the second half began it was noticeable how much possession Leeds were enjoying, against an entirely-changed team of Manchester United kids. Alas, it never really translated into chances. There was some tidy football, a Struijk header that sailed inexplicably wide from right in front, some good runs from James with no end product and a Gray drive that flew into the side netting. Manchester United, by comparison, were ruthless when they got a sniff. A heavy Struijk touch led to the first goal from Emeran. Hugill got the second, drifting in alone to direct a pass that initially looked misplaced into the net beyond Dani van den Heuvel.
Farke, who was appointed Leeds boss just eight days before the friendly, said at full-time that the game had come too soon for his squad but it did show him ‘glimpses’ of what he wanted to do with them. And as they flew back to England he had just 24 days in which to prepare them for a campaign that would see them come so close, yet so far from glory. Finishing third behind automatic promotion winners Leicester City and Ipswich Town, Leeds had to settle for the play-offs and met Southampton in an ill-fated final at Wembley, decided by a single Adam Armstrong goal.
Here’s the starting line-up from the first ever sighting of Farke’s Leeds, and where they are now.
The Norwegian keeper started the friendly due to extended leave for Illan Meslier and the exit of Joel Robles. A year later he joined Polish side Raków Częstochowa on a free but lasted just over a month after issues with his fitness. September to January 2025 saw him at Danish Superliga club AGF and then he signed for Viking in his home country.
The Norwegian keeper started the friendly due to extended leave for Illan Meslier and the exit of Joel Robles. A year later he joined Polish side Raków Częstochowa on a free but lasted just over a month after issues with his fitness. September to January 2025 saw him at Danish Superliga club AGF and then he signed for Viking in his home country.
1. Kristoffer Klaesson
The Norwegian keeper started the friendly due to extended leave for Illan Meslier and the exit of Joel Robles. A year later he joined Polish side Raków Częstochowa on a free but lasted just over a month after issues with his fitness. September to January 2025 saw him at Danish Superliga club AGF and then he signed for Viking in his home country. | Getty Images
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It felt like there might be a chance for him at Leeds under Farke but by September 2023 he was on loan at Birmingham City for the season. In July 2024 he left the club to sign a three-year deal at Hull City where he started 17 league games this season.
It felt like there might be a chance for him at Leeds under Farke but by September 2023 he was on loan at Birmingham City for the season. In July 2024 he left the club to sign a three-year deal at Hull City where he started 17 league games this season.
2. Cody Drameh
It felt like there might be a chance for him at Leeds under Farke but by September 2023 he was on loan at Birmingham City for the season. In July 2024 he left the club to sign a three-year deal at Hull City where he started 17 league games this season. | Manchester United via Getty Imag
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The left-sided defender never really got going at Leeds. By January 2024 he was off to Sunderland in a permanent deal. He's started twice in the Championship for the Black Cats this season and made eight sub appearances.
The left-sided defender never really got going at Leeds. By January 2024 he was off to Sunderland in a permanent deal. He's started twice in the Championship for the Black Cats this season and made eight sub appearances.
3. Leo Hjelde
The left-sided defender never really got going at Leeds. By January 2024 he was off to Sunderland in a permanent deal. He's started twice in the Championship for the Black Cats this season and made eight sub appearances. | Manchester United via Getty Imag
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The 20-year-old was sent to Iverness Caledonian Thistle in January 2024 on loan but suffered a back injury that ended his season. Played for Leeds 21s for the first half of this season and then joined Dunfermline in a permanent move at the start of February.
The 20-year-old was sent to Iverness Caledonian Thistle in January 2024 on loan but suffered a back injury that ended his season. Played for Leeds 21s for the first half of this season and then joined Dunfermline in a permanent move at the start of February.
4. Jeremiah Mullen
The 20-year-old was sent to Iverness Caledonian Thistle in January 2024 on loan but suffered a back injury that ended his season. Played for Leeds 21s for the first half of this season and then joined Dunfermline in a permanent move at the start of February. | Getty Images
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The former club captain picked up an injury at the start of Farke's first season and then struggled to get back in the side. He left Leeds last summer when his contract expired and joined CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria. He captains them and scored his first goal last time out against Cherno More.
The former club captain picked up an injury at the start of Farke's first season and then struggled to get back in the side. He left Leeds last summer when his contract expired and joined CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria. He captains them and scored his first goal last time out against Cherno More.
5. Liam Cooper
The former club captain picked up an injury at the start of Farke's first season and then struggled to get back in the side. He left Leeds last summer when his contract expired and joined CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria. He captains them and scored his first goal last time out against Cherno More. | Manchester United via Getty Imag
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Barely featured in Farke's first season and then turned down the offer of a contract to remain at Elland Road in order to sign for Sheffield United on a free. Injury has robbed him of most of this campaign so far.
Barely featured in Farke's first season and then turned down the offer of a contract to remain at Elland Road in order to sign for Sheffield United on a free. Injury has robbed him of most of this campaign so far.
6. Jamie Shackleton
Barely featured in Farke's first season and then turned down the offer of a contract to remain at Elland Road in order to sign for Sheffield United on a free. Injury has robbed him of most of this campaign so far. | Manchester United via Getty Imag
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The Norwegian keeper started the friendly due to extended leave for Illan Meslier and the exit of Joel Robles. A year later he joined Polish side Raków Częstochowa on a free but lasted just over a month after issues with his fitness. September to January 2025 saw him at Danish Superliga club AGF and then he signed for Viking in his home country.The Norwegian keeper started the friendly due to extended leave for Illan Meslier and the exit of Joel Robles. A year later he joined Polish side Raków Częstochowa on a free but lasted just over a month after issues with his fitness. September to January 2025 saw him at Danish Superliga club AGF and then he signed for Viking in his home country.
The Norwegian keeper started the friendly due to extended leave for Illan Meslier and the exit of Joel Robles. A year later he joined Polish side Raków Częstochowa on a free but lasted just over a month after issues with his fitness. September to January 2025 saw him at Danish Superliga club AGF and then he signed for Viking in his home country.
This summer Leeds United will take on Manchester United in what will be their second Scandanavian meeting in three years but the starting line-up from the last one has taken on a stark look.
Of the players who began that game - Farke’s first in charge of the Whites in front of a paying audience - only two still belong to the club. There have been painful exits, inevitable departures and career trajectories that have not yet shown signs of recovery. Among the starters for the game in Oslo at Ullevaal Stadion were players who expected to play a big role under Farke and a number who hoped to stand a chance of involvement with the senior side. There was also a player Leeds desperately hoped to keep for the Championship campaign, before he made a bitterly acrimonious exit. Less than two years on it has been an almost total demolition job for that side.
The game itself in Norway was a largely unremarkable affair. Second-half goals from Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill gave Manchester United a 2-0 win. Before kick-off, club captains Liam Cooper and Raphael Varane paid tribute to the late Gordon McQueen, a former favourite of both clubs, who died a month prior at the age of 70. Fans from both clubs joined to applaud the memory of the ex-St Mirren, Leeds and Manchester United man.
Leeds’ best chance on the day fell to Archie Gray, who at that stage was still just a prospect for the club and had not yet made a senior competitive appearance. Farke rang 10 changes in all at the break bringing on the likes of Gray, Pascal Struijk, Daniel James and Patrick Bamford but even the second half side was littered with names no longer employed by the club. As the second half began it was noticeable how much possession Leeds were enjoying, against an entirely-changed team of Manchester United kids. Alas, it never really translated into chances. There was some tidy football, a Struijk header that sailed inexplicably wide from right in front, some good runs from James with no end product and a Gray drive that flew into the side netting. Manchester United, by comparison, were ruthless when they got a sniff. A heavy Struijk touch led to the first goal from Emeran. Hugill got the second, drifting in alone to direct a pass that initially looked misplaced into the net beyond Dani van den Heuvel.
The midfielder is still a Leeds United man, but spent the second half of last season on loan with Plymouth Argyle before requiring groin surgery, then headed back to Devon for a season-long loan with the Pilgrims. He's been a vital player this season, starting 29 times.
The midfielder is still a Leeds United man, but spent the second half of last season on loan with Plymouth Argyle before requiring groin surgery, then headed back to Devon for a season-long loan with the Pilgrims. He's been a vital player this season, starting 29 times.
7. Darko Gyabi
The midfielder is still a Leeds United man, but spent the second half of last season on loan with Plymouth Argyle before requiring groin surgery, then headed back to Devon for a season-long loan with the Pilgrims. He's been a vital player this season, starting 29 times. | Getty Images
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Used sparingly at Leeds by Farke so for the second half of the 2023/24 season he joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan. They wanted him back in the summer when he was released by Leeds but he joined Sunderland instead. He's made six substitute cameos and is currently out injured.
Used sparingly at Leeds by Farke so for the second half of the 2023/24 season he joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan. They wanted him back in the summer when he was released by Leeds but he joined Sunderland instead. He's made six substitute cameos and is currently out injured.
8. Ian Poveda
Used sparingly at Leeds by Farke so for the second half of the 2023/24 season he joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan. They wanted him back in the summer when he was released by Leeds but he joined Sunderland instead. He's made six substitute cameos and is currently out injured. | Getty Images
Started the season with Leeds and then left in a bitterly acrimonious deadline day split, signing for Bournemouth on loan. In February 2024 it became a £20m permanent move. He's played 37 times and scored four goals for the Cherries but injuries have yet again hampered his progress.
Started the season with Leeds and then left in a bitterly acrimonious deadline day split, signing for Bournemouth on loan. In February 2024 it became a £20m permanent move. He's played 37 times and scored four goals for the Cherries but injuries have yet again hampered his progress.
9. Luis Sinisterra
Started the season with Leeds and then left in a bitterly acrimonious deadline day split, signing for Bournemouth on loan. In February 2024 it became a £20m permanent move. He's played 37 times and scored four goals for the Cherries but injuries have yet again hampered his progress. | Manchester United via Getty Imag
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Spent almost all of Farke's first season out on loan with Middlesbrough and was farmed out again in the summer, this time to Preston North End. His two loan stints have brought 79 senior appearances, 12 goals and five assists. He's played in eight different roles in that time.
Spent almost all of Farke's first season out on loan with Middlesbrough and was farmed out again in the summer, this time to Preston North End. His two loan stints have brought 79 senior appearances, 12 goals and five assists. He's played in eight different roles in that time.
10. Sam Greenwood
Spent almost all of Farke's first season out on loan with Middlesbrough and was farmed out again in the summer, this time to Preston North End. His two loan stints have brought 79 senior appearances, 12 goals and five assists. He's played in eight different roles in that time. | Getty Images
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The most painful one. He became a star of the Leeds team under Farke for that first season but then a clause in his contract was exercised and Brighton signed him for £40m last summer. He's scored eight goals and added four assists for the Premier League side this season.
The most painful one. He became a star of the Leeds team under Farke for that first season but then a clause in his contract was exercised and Brighton signed him for £40m last summer. He's scored eight goals and added four assists for the Premier League side this season.
11. Georginio Rutter
The most painful one. He became a star of the Leeds team under Farke for that first season but then a clause in his contract was exercised and Brighton signed him for £40m last summer. He's scored eight goals and added four assists for the Premier League side this season. | Getty Images
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