With Leeds rapidly ascending back to the English Premier League, its American proprietors — among them golf luminaries Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas — can take pride in their selection of both the club and its manager for rejuvenation.
The ownership consortium, led by San Francisco-based 49ers Enterprises, underwent a tumultuous journey at Leeds before assuming full control last July of a club recently demoted from the Premier League.
Their choice of German tactician Daniel Farke, renowned for his expertise in guiding teams to top-flight promotion, has proven astute.
Leeds surged to the top of the second-tier Championship on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Millwall, mere hours after long-standing leader Leicester faltered in the FA Cup quarterfinals against Chelsea.
“You have to be there with a smile on your face and to enjoy sometimes, but also to stay humble,” remarked Farke on reclaiming the top spot. Farke boasts Championship title wins in his last two seasons in the league, leading Norwich to championship glory in 2019 and 2021.
His appointment marked a strategic move by the investment arm of the NFL franchise, which subsequently completed a full takeover of Leeds just two weeks later, having initially invested in 2018.
Tasked with reconstructing Leeds following a chaotic Premier League season characterized by managerial turnover and eventual relegation, Farke inherited a daunting challenge. American coach Jesse Marsch began the campaign but departed in February, culminating in a winless four-game stint under Sam Allardyce.
Relegation was an unexpected setback for the 49ers group and their prospective partners like Spieth. Spieth revealed that one potential collaborator, Rickie Fowler, withdrew interest following Leeds’ relegation.
“Relegation wasn’t ideal,” Spieth remarked, “but we got involved with the 49ers group about purchasing a larger share and getting in with them doing things so successfully as they do everywhere they’ve touched.”
Under Farke’s stewardship, Leeds has experienced a remarkable transformation in the lower division. Known for his teams’ second-half surges and tactical acumen, Farke has overseen Leeds’ resurgence, winning 12 of their last 13 league games in 2024.
Despite skepticism about his credentials at the top level, Farke’s track record speaks volumes. His Norwich side famously upset Manchester City in 2019, and he has a proven knack for leading teams to promotion.
Now, at the helm of Leeds, Farke is reigniting the club’s enthusiasm, with the Elland Road faithful rallying behind their rejuvenated team.
“We have a good base situation right now,” affirmed Farke, “to finish really in a top position.” It’s a vision that Spieth and the other owners foresaw. “It’s a big city, historic club, great venue in Elland Road,” Spieth noted, “and once we looked into it we realized it could be inspiring.”
