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Nathan Cliff

What Daniel Farke would bring to Leeds United with 'Bielsa-style' gegenpress

German manager Daniel Farke has been linked with a switch to Elland Road, a return to England after leaving Norwich City in November 2021.

Farke has moved ahead of Steven Gerrard and Carlos Corberan with some bookies, as Leeds’ search for a new boss continues. But what would appointing the German mean for the Whites?

Farke’s most recent role was back in his home country, where he managed Borrusia Mönchengladbach last season. He managed to win games over both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in his only season in charge of the club, but he was sacked after finishing tenth in the Bundesliga.

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The German has significant experience in England, after managing Norwich for over four years, leading them to the Championship title twice. Farke’s Championship record speaks for itself, in 138 Championship games, his Norwich side won 71 and only lost 29 times.

The German applies a traditional ‘gegenpress’ tactic, a high intensity attacking style of play which utilises winning the ball high up the pitch and countering quickly. The style is not too dissimilar to what Leeds fans are used to in recent years, as the likes of Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch also adopted a similar style.

Farke will bring the know-how to get a side that has been relegated back to the Premier League. His Norwich side were promoted in 2019 but relegated straight back the season after, Farke galvanised the Canaries to go again, and they were promoted again the following season.

His experience of getting a relegated side to go again would be vital for the Whites after they were relegated last month.

While the German struggled in the Premier League, his sacking was a slightly controversial one, Farke had just got Norwich their first win of the season after a record 15-game losing streak. But he was sacked the day after in 2021, and the Canaries ended up going down.

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