Daniel Farke has guided Leeds United back to the Premier League, marking a major milestone in his coaching career, though his track record in the top flight brings mixed memories.
The German manager previously endured a difficult spell in the Premier League with Norwich City, where he was ultimately sacked following a run of 15 straight losses. Just a year ago, Farke faced fresh disappointment, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion before Leeds fell 1-0 to Southampton in the Championship play-off final.
But this season, the 48-year-old redeemed himself by securing his third promotion to the Premier League in England. While he earned two Championship titles and two promotions during his time at Norwich, both top-flight campaigns ended in relegation, raising questions about his future at Elland Road despite the recent success.
Speculation has swirled around whether Leeds might part ways with Farke ahead of the new season, similar to Norwich’s decision in 2021. Despite his dismissal, Farke looked back fondly on his four-and-a-half-year spell with the Canaries, calling it a “great time” and expressing gratitude to the fans, players, and club leadership.
Farke’s English football journey began in 2017 when he took over from Alex Neil at Norwich. His debut season ended mid-table, but he followed that with a stunning title-winning campaign in 2018–19, collecting 94 points. That same season, Leeds heartbreakingly lost in the play-offs to Derby County.
Norwich’s return to the Premier League proved tough, with just five wins and a 20th-place finish. After bouncing back with another Championship title—this time with 97 points—Farke was given another shot at top-flight survival, but a dismal run saw him axed just months in.
Following brief spells at Krasnodar and Borussia Mönchengladbach, Farke took the reins at Leeds and has now completed another successful push for promotion. While the Premier League presents familiar challenges, Farke once again has the opportunity to prove he belongs at the highest level.
