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Daniel Farke

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Norwich Career: 2017-21 (Manager)
Current Club: Leeds United (Manager)
Date of Birth: 30/10/1976 
Nationality: German

Biography

On 25th May 2017, Daniel Farke was appointed as Norwich's Head Coach to be working with Sporting Director Stuart Webber. Farke was signed from Borussia Dortmund's reserve side (Borussia Dortmund II) - following the same route to England as Huddersfield's successful David Wagner with whom Webber had worked.

Farke played his whole career in the lower levels of German football including three spells with with SV Lippstadt 08 (youth-2003, 2006, 2007-08). He also played for Wilhelmshaven (2003-05), Bonner SC (2005-06) and SV Meppen (2006-07).

Farke began his managerial career with the club with whom he spent most of his playing career, SV Lippstadt 08. He was in charge for 6 years before accepting the opportunity to take charge of Borussia Dortmund II

He brought with him to England from Borussia Dortmund II assistant Edmund Riemer, scout Christian Fluthmann and defender Christoph Zimmermann

His first signing for Norwich was Marley Watkins.

Farke led Norwich to the Championship title in his second season at Carrow Road. They were relegated from the Premier League the following campaign but Norwich kept faith in Farke and his team. He then secured them a second Championship title in 2020/21 becoming the first Norwich manager to achieve two titles at this level. At the end of April 2021, there was interest from German sides Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt who were looking to replace their head coaches who would be leaving in the summer of 2021. Norwich then started to prepare a new contract for Farke to ward off suitors.

On 29th April 2021 Farke was named as the EFL Championship Manager of the Year.

On 3rd June 2021 it was reported that Farke had turned down overtures from Turkish giants Fenerbache. Farke was reportedly the favoured German candidate on the club's shortlist, with Paulo Fonseca and Nuno Espirito Santo also sounded out for the vacancy. Spanish outlet Marca are now reporting that ex-Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster is primed to take the job. The ex-Besiktas coach was one of three Germans to appear on the shortlist including Farke and Ralf Rangnick. Fenerbahce aren't the first side to reportedly show an interest in Farke. Reports have also suggested Bournemouth considered making an approach for City's boss to succeed Eddie Howe last summer prior to appointing Jason Tindall. 

Farke managed his 200th game in charge of Norwich when they played Arsenal on 11th September 2021.

An appalling start to the 2021/22 Premier League campaign saw Norwich take just two points from their first 10 games, continuing the poor Premier League form that saw them lose all 10 games after the restart in 2020. These 10 games included a 7-0 thrashing at Chelsea. Despite a 2-1 win at Brentford on 6th November 2021, Farke and his coaching team were sacked the same evening with Norwich intending to bring in a new manager over the international break.

Sporting director Stuart Webber said: “In continuing to demand the very best for our football club, this decision was not an easy one. I know how determined Daniel and his staff were to succeed at this level, but we feel that now is the right time for a change to give ourselves the best opportunity of retaining our Premier League status," he said, quoted on the club's official site. All at Norwich City should be forever grateful to Daniel and his staff for the significant role they have played in our journey. They helped deliver two Championship titles, many memorable moments and they all fully bought into our philosophy and what it means to be part of this football club. Daniel and his staff will always be welcome back here. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their hard work and wish them well for the future.It’s important that we now look forward. We have 27 league games remaining and a long way to go in the current season. We know we have the ability within our playing squad and staff to start picking up points and climbing the league table.”

Farke managed Norwich for 208 games, 87 of which were victories giving him a win ratio of 41.8%. He was the longest-serving manager since Nigel Worthington and joined Ken Brown as the only men to lead Norwich to two promotions to the top flight although Farke was the only one to win two Second Tier titles. However just six wins and eight draws from 49 matches in the top tier meant a win percentage of just 12.2pc, scoring 31 and conceding 101, with the recent 7-0 thrashing at Chelsea equalling City’s record defeat. In the Championship his win percentage was 51.4pc, scoring 217 and conceding 153 with a brand of football hailed as among the best ever produced by Norwich at that level.

The 7-0 demolition of Huddersfield at Carrow Road in April 2021 was the biggest margin of victory in the top two tiers in the club’s history. Other classic victories included the 3-2 win over Manchester City in September 2020, the 3-1 win at Leeds in February 2020 and the 3-0 defeat of Ipswich which saw Paul Lambert sent off and Farke giving a wink to the supporters to endear him even further to the Carrow Road faithful.

In just over four seasons at Carrow Road, 75 players made an appearance for Farke, with  Max Aarons (141), Teemu Pukki (138) and Christoph Zimmermann (135) making the most.11 Academy products were given their debut including Max Aarons, Jamal Lewis, Todd Cantwell and Andrew Omobamidele.

In December 2021 he was linked with the managerial vacancy at Turkish giants Besiktas according to German media outlet Sport1

The following month he was appointed manager of Russian top flight side Krasnodar on 13th January 2022. He signed a contract until the summer of 2024 with the south-west Russian club, a city close to the Black Sea coast and towards the southern border with Georgia. His coaching staff remain by his side, with assistant Eddie Riemer, coach and analyst Christopher John and fitness chief Chris Domogalla all heading to Russia as well.

On 2nd March 2022 Farke left Krasnodar without taking charge of a single match. He was scheduled to manage his first Krasnodar game at home to Lokomotiv Moscow at the end of February but the fixture was postponed because of the suspension of Krasnodar airport operations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. "Krasnodar and Daniel Farke have terminated the contract by mutual agreement," a statement on the club's official Twitter account read.

At the beginning of May 2022 he was linked with the managerial vacancy at Blackburn following the sacking of Tony Mowbray.

On 4th June 2022 Farke was appointed head coach of Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach following the departure of previous boss Adi Hutter. He will be joined by assistants Christopher John and Edmund Riemer. The Foals finished 10th in the Bundesliga last season

On 2nd June 2023 Farke and Gladbach parted company. German media reported the Canaries’ double Championship title winner’s exit which was then confirmed by the five-time national champions after a 10th-placed finish in his debut season. Farke is believed to have held talks with Borussia sporting director Roland Virkus following a disappointing campaign. Borussia confirmed in their official statement in addition to Farke, his assistant coaches Edmund Riemer, Christopher John and Chris Domogalla have also departed. "After several intensive discussions, Daniel Farke and we came to the conclusion that we should go our separate ways," said Virkus, in a club statement which outlined the decision had been reached after a 'detailed analysis of the season had brought both parties to the decision to end their co-operation'. "We would like to thank Daniel and his team for the work they have done."

Farke was soon linked with the vacancy at Leeds United, possibly in connection with Stuart Webber, replacing Sam Allardyce who couldn't save Leeds for relegation from the Premier League. After weeks of speculation and interviews, Farke was announced as Leeds' manager on 4th July 2023 on a four year contract. He will be assisted by Eddie Riemer, with Christopher John and Chris Domogalla also joining the coaching team at Elland Road.


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