The 49ers' faith in Daniel Farke at Leeds United is plain to see
08:40, 26 May 2026
Pep Guardiola and Daniel Farke attain a good bond between them
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Pep Guardiola and Daniel Farke attain a good bond between them(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
No doubt, Daniel Farke would have sent a congratulatory message to friend Pep Guardiola upon his exit from Manchester City.
The pair have formed a close bond since their first meeting in 2019, Guardiola even calling Farke in August to ask about his thoughts on Arsenal following Leeds United’s 5-0 defeat, ahead of Man City’s own trip to the Emirates Stadium a few weeks later.
Farke has described Guardiola as “the best manager in the world” and eulogised about him in last week’s press conference. “Pep is the best. In our generation he's definitely the best,” said the Leeds manager.
“There is no manager who has incluenced more other coaches, more players, in the way he has changed the game. He was always ahead of the wave, so his history speaks for itself. I think 20 trophies in 10 years, many, many titles also in a row. He won everything that he could win.
“So I think it's the perfect timing for him if he feels it's the right moment. But of course it's also a sad day for everyone who loves football because yes, everyone who loves football must admire and adore Pep Guardiola.”
The Catalan’s departure from the Blues this summer ends a 10-year stay and means the title of longest-serving active Premier League manager is passed onto Arsenal boss and new league champion Mikel Arteta, who of course was Guardiola’s understudy prior to his Gunners move.
Arteta has been at his post for more than six years and is by some distance the manager to have been at his club the longest. Guardiola’s exit and the departure of Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth means Farke is bumped up into a new cohort.
The Leeds boss has not quite yet reached the three-year mark on his tenure but he now moves into the top six managers who have been at their respective Premier League club the longest.
For clarity, this is not how long they have been in the Premier League of course, but simply how long the manager has been at their club. Second is Marco Silva who has been at Fulham almost five years but whose future is unclear.
Eddie Howe looks to be staying at Newcastle United, with his tenure just 130 days shorter than Silva’s. Kieran McKenna of newly-promoted Ipswich Town has been at his post for four-and-a-half years, making him fourth on the list.
As seen in the table below, fifth is Aston Villa boss Unai Emery and then comes Farke, who is a month away from reaching the three-year mark.
His contract expires in 12 months’ time and fans wish for the 49ers to hand him a renewal. It’s a call that they will need to make this summer.
Longest-serving managers
As of June 1.
Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) - 6 years 161 days
Marco Silva (Fulham) - 4 years 335 days
Eddie Howe (Newcastle) - 4 years 205 days
Kieran McKenna (Ipswich) - 4 years 163 days
Unai Emery (Aston Villa) - 3 years 212 days
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Daniel Farke (Leeds United) - 2 years 332 days