Promotion-winning former Leeds United boss gives his Daniel Farke verdict with deal expectation
A promotion-winning former Leeds United boss on Daniel Farke.
Promotion-winning former Leeds United boss Simon Grayson has saluted the work of Daniel Farke and cannot see the Whites head coach going anywhere else any time soon.
Grayson took Leeds out of the League One doldrums back in 2010 as part of three excellent years in charge of the club who are now in their second season back in the Premier League under Farke.
The German’s first year in charge of Leeds ended with a heart-breaking defeat in the Championship play-off final but Farke’s side then stormed to promotion in the ultimate style of Championship champions the following year.
Either side of two promotions as Championship champions, Farke’s previous attempts at managing in the Premier League with Norwich City ended in a relegation in 2020 and then a dismissal in November 2022 on the second attempt.
Farke, though, steered United to an excellent 14th-placed finish on last season’s top-flight return and Leeds now sit fifth after five games of the new campaign in which they are still unbeaten.
Farke now less than one year left on his current Leeds contract which runs out next summer but Grayson fully expects that United’s head coach will sign a new deal very soon, the promotion-winning former Leeds boss impressed with his work and fully understanding why the German has been reluctant to discuss his contract too much in recent press conferences.
Asked how important it was for Leeds to get Farke’s new contract sorted, Grayson said: “I think he has dismissed a lot of it because when there have been the games, like there has, he doesn't want to take anything away from the preparations for the team.
"I'll be surprised if something doesn't happen in this next couple of weeks with it all as well, not that I know anything by all accounts.
“That's probably been the case and he's shown what he's capable of doing”
"I think he wants to stay, the club want him to stay, so I'd be very surprised if something doesn't happen very soon."
Pressed on Farke having now proved himself as a Premier League manager, Grayson added: "I think he's had a point to prove to himself, not other people.
"He was dismissed as not being able to cope as a Premier League manager but that is sometimes motivation to yourself when it's sometimes out of your control that you are not given the tools to work with and that's probably been the case and he's shown what he's capable of doing.
"Like I said, I'm pretty sure he wants to stay, the club want him to stay, I don't see anything happening to him leaving at any particular time soon."