Leeds United have had 40 everlasting managers throughout their 105-year historical past, with the present man in cost being Daniel Farke.
The Whites have had their fair proportion of success tales within the dugout, though at occasions, there have additionally been some names to neglect, comparable to David Hockaday and Darko Milanic throughout Massimo Cellino’s time as proprietor.
Now again within the Championship after three seasons within the high flight, it’s protected to say that managers’ fortunes over time have been combined, with their current play-off remaining defeat prolonging the agony of a membership with such a wealthy historical past on the high of the sport.
Soccer FanCast, with the assistance of LUFCDATA, has taken a have a look at the membership’s high 10 everlasting managers based mostly on their win percentages.
10
Howard Wilkinson OBE – 43.45%
October 1988 – September 1996
Howard Wilkinson was the seventeenth everlasting supervisor in Leeds United’s historical past and joined the membership in 1988 from Sheffield Wednesday. He went on to make a big impact in Yorkshire from high to backside throughout his eight-year keep.
He took Leeds to the Second Division title in his first season in cost, with the Whites then successful the 1991/92 First Division. Just lately named within the New 12 months’s Honours Checklist, Wilkinson additionally helped Leeds with their Thorp Arch coaching facility and left with 179 wins from 412 video games.
9
Dennis Smart – 44.1%
October 2006 – January 2008
Dennis Smart arguably wasn’t as well-liked as Wilkinson throughout his time with the Whites as a consequence of his earlier Chelsea connections.
He was introduced in throughout Ken Bates’ time as proprietor again in 2006 following earlier stints in control of Millwall and Swindon City. Alongside Gus Poyet, who was his assistant, Smart took Leeds right down to League One in 2007 and commenced the following marketing campaign with a 15-point deduction.
The previous midfielder managed to wipe out that deficit within the first 5 video games of the season and really had Leeds in third place earlier than leaving in January 2008 to affix Newcastle United as government director. In complete, Smart received 30 of his 68 video games in cost.
8
Jimmy Armfield CBE – 45.1%
October 1974 – June 1978
Jimmy Armfield took over at Leeds United following Brian Clough’s short-lived reign in West Yorkshire again in 1974. Trying to proceed the success of Don Revie previous to Clough, Armfield spent greater than 4 years at Elland Street and took the membership to the European Cup remaining in 1975.
As we all know, a controversial 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich adopted, and Armfield was ultimately changed in 1978 after successful 87 of his 193 video games.
7
Marcelo Bielsa – 47.1%
June 2018 – February 2022
It may come as a shock to some to see Marcelo Bielsa down in seventh, nonetheless, his time in cost led to 2022 following a poor run of kind which impacted his file.
Delivered to the membership in 2018, the Argentinian reworked the Whites squad, making them promotion challengers in his first season, which led to play-off heartache.
Bielsa remained at Elland Street, although, and was the supervisor to take the membership again to the highest flight by successful the Championship title in 2019/20. He then guided Leeds to a ninth-place end in his first season within the Premier League and introduced his excessive power and attacking model of soccer to the group. Bielsa departed the membership with 80 wins from 170 video games.
6
Garry Monk – 47.2%
July 2016 – Could 2017
Just a few years previous to Bielsa, Garry Monk was seen as the person who may take Leeds again to the Premier League. The previous Swansea Metropolis boss solely signed a one-year contract and the Whites appeared like they’d at the least end within the high six. Nevertheless, a poor run of kind resulted in Leeds falling quick, and Monk didn’t signal a brand new deal, ultimately becoming a member of Middlesbrough.
Monk received 25 of his 53 video games in cost throughout the 2016/17 marketing campaign.
5
Simon Grayson – 49.7%
December 2008 – February 2012
Former academy graduate Simon Grayson solely performed a handful of first-team video games for Leeds and made extra of an impression within the Elland Street dugout as supervisor.
He left Blackpool in 2008 to affix his boyhood membership and spent simply over three years in cost. Throughout that point, he took Leeds again into the Championship from League One, whereas additionally recording a historic 1-0 FA Cup victory away to rivals Manchester United in 2010.
When he was sacked in 2012, Grayson had 84 wins from 169 video games in all competitions.
4
David O’Leary – 49.75%
October 1998 – June 2002
Over the past 25 years, David O’Leary was the supervisor in control of Leeds at their highest level. The previous defender was George Graham’s assistant at Elland Street and was then caretaker after Graham left for Tottenham Hotspur.
O’Leary was then handed the job on a everlasting foundation and took the Whites into the UEFA Cup after which the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2000/01. Nevertheless, by 2002, Peter Ridsdale then sacked the Irishman, who left with 101 victories from 203 video games.
3
Gary McAllister – 50%
January 2008 – December 2008
Former midfielder Gary McAllister, who performed his half on the pitch underneath Wilkinson, returned to Leeds as supervisor in 2008 to switch Smart.
After a gradual begin, McAllister ultimately took the Whites to the League One play-off remaining at Wembley towards Doncaster Rovers. Leeds would lose 1-0 and likewise misplaced to part-time membership Histon within the FA Cup the next season, with the Scot leaving on the finish of the calendar 12 months. Regardless of this, McAllister nonetheless received 25 of his 50 video games in cost.
2
Don Revie – 53.3%
March 1961 – June 1974
Don Revie is Leeds’ greatest-ever supervisor and he really started his time in cost at Elland Street as player-manager again in 1961. After retiring as a participant, Revie took Leeds from Second Division strugglers to among the finest sides within the nation throughout his 13-year keep.
He received two First Division titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, two Inter-Cities Gala’s Cups, one Second Division title and one Charity Protect in Yorkshire, taking cost of a whopping 741 video games, successful 395.
Revie, who went on to handle England in 1974, has a stand in his identify at Elland Street alongside a statue.
1
Daniel Farke – 56.4%
July 2023 – current
Regardless of lacking out on promotion to the Premier League, Daniel Farke presently has the most effective successful share file of any Leeds United supervisor.
The German, previously of Norwich Metropolis, was introduced in by 49ers Enterprises because the membership’s fortieth everlasting supervisor in 2023, and after a gradual begin, he quickly obtained to grips with issues in West Yorkshire to place Leeds firmly within the promotion struggle.
Sadly, regardless of a terrific run after the brand new 12 months, the Whites’ kind dipped over the Easter interval and all through April, and their Premier League dream was put to mattress after defeat within the play-off remaining at Wembley as Southampton snatched the final promotion spot.
Nevertheless, Farke is nicely forward of Don Revie by way of win share – and one other season within the Championship could give him the chance to tug additional forward as they search promotion from the second tier as soon as extra subsequent time period.