With Leeds on a fast track back to the English Premier League, its American owners — including golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas — can feel happy they picked the right club and the right coach to revive it.
The San Francisco-based 49ers Enterprises ownership group had its ups and downs at Leeds before taking full control last July of a team recently relegated from the Premier League.
It had hired German coach Daniel Farke, who specializes in promotion to the top tier.
Leeds moved atop the second-tier Championship on Sunday by beating Millwall 2-0 hours after longtime leader Leicester lost in the FA Cup quarterfinals at Chelsea.
“You have to be there with a smile on your face and to enjoy sometimes, but also to stay humble,” Farke said of being back on top.
Farke won the Championship title in his last two seasons in the league — leading Norwich to lift the trophy in 2019 and 2021.
Farke proved to be a smart offseason pick by the investment operation of the NFL franchise that just two weeks later completed a full takeover of Leeds where it first invested in 2018.
Leeds United’s Mateo Joseph, right, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the English FA Cup fifth round soccer match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Credit: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
His task was to rebuild Leeds after a chaotic season in the Premier League which saw four different coaches oversee a slump toward inevitable relegation.
American coach Jesse Marsch started the campaign and lasted until February, and the season ended with Sam Allardyce — whose time as England coach in 2016 lasted only one game — in charge for a winless four-game stretch.
Relegation had not been the plan for some potential owners in the 49ers group and Spieth revealed one intended partner, Rickie Fowler, withdrew when Premier League status was lost.
“Relegation wasn’t ideal,” Spieth said last year, “but we got involved with the 49ers…
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