Leeds at a Crossroads: Two Big-Hitters Who Could Replace Farke Today

Leeds United find themselves in that awkward early-season limbo: not quite sunk, not exactly safe, and with the air of inevitability hanging over results. They’re joint second-lowest scorers, hovering just above the trapdoor after 11 games, and the table’s tight squeeze means they’re only two points off 19th. It’s less the position and more the predictability that’s got Elland Road twitchy.

Why Farke’s under pressure

Daniel Farke’s current return is a flat one point per game. That’s an uptick on his previous Premier League record, but hardly enough to settle nerves. Before this season he’d picked up just six wins in 49 top-flight matches, 26 points at 0.53 per game, and two rock-bottom finishes sandwiched around a promotion. It’s the résumé of a Championship maestro still searching for a Premier League blueprint.

Recent form hasn’t helped: three shipped in each of the last two, eight conceded in the last three away days. Since the opening-day victory over Everton, the only sides they’ve beaten are teams who have since changed manager. A missed chance against Bournemouth, a damaging loss to Burnley, and even the spirited signs versus Spurs won’t quieten an agitated crowd. The underlying metrics whisper mid-table; the scoreboard shouts something else.

Available now: Marco Rose

Marco Rose would be a statement play. The former RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund boss has Champions League pedigree and knows his way around modern, multi-club setups. He’s been out of work since spring, he’s refreshed, and he’s won proper silverware—cups in Germany and titles with RB Salzburg in Austria. Think Unai Emery to Villa as the archetype: an ambitious swing that can transform standards overnight.

Rose would bring clarity, intensity, and structure, but it won’t be instant. He’d need quick buy-in and a couple of clean sheets to reset the mood. Still, if Leeds want to act like a club that belongs, this is exactly the sort of hire that says so.

Available now: Thiago Motta

Thiago Motta’s reputation soared at Bologna, where his adventurous, front-foot football delivered their best campaign in years and earned the attention of Juventus. Things haven’t all been smooth since, but the context around his tougher spell matters. Motta is tactically sophisticated, demanding, and high-ceiling—exactly the kind of forward-thinker owners like 49ers Enterprises tend to fancy.

The challenge? Motta’s ideas are intricate and mid-season is an unforgiving classroom. But give him a stable platform and his ceiling outstrips most realistic options. He’s a bold call with a potentially massive payoff.

Bottom line: if Leeds pull the trigger, Marco Rose and Thiago Motta are the standout, available options right now—progressive, high-grade coaches who fit a modern, ambitious brief.

The best of the rest

Brendan Rodgers would arrive with unfinished business in England. Yes, he couldn’t halt Leicester’s nosedive in the end, but he previously lifted them into the top bracket and has the gravitas to align with a big-vision ownership model.

Steven Gerrard’s name will surface, as it always does, but recent stumbles post-Rangers and a messy exit from Villa make it a hard sell on both sides.

Carlos Corberan is a romantic option with real substance: Bielsa lineage, development chops, and solid EFL credentials. His ledger reads 280 matches: 111 wins, 75 draws, 94 losses, with 373 scored and 349 conceded. He feels destined for a Premier League dugout, though prising him from his current post could be complicated.

Gary O’Neil deserves a look. He’s been dealt tough hands at Bournemouth and Wolves yet handled the Premier League with a cool head, adaptable game plans, and solid man-management. Not flashy, but dependable—and that counts in a relegation scrap.

Verdict: Time to be brave

Leeds can’t drift. If they stick with Farke, they need immediate defensive discipline and a sharper edge in the box. If they twist, this is the moment to be bold. Rose and Motta signal ambition and a long-term project—without ignoring the short-term need for points. That balance is everything.

For those fancying a flutter on the managerial merry-go-round, check out the best betting sites for the latest prices and market movers—just remember, football’s as much about timing as it is about talent.