Leeds United's 5 worst managers ever (Ranked) | OneFootball

FLW outline Leeds United's five worst managers by PPG.

Leeds United have had some popular and unpopular managers in the Elland Road dugout throughout the years, but it is Daniel Farke who is currently tasked with turning Leeds United's fortunes around.

Equally, Leeds have also had some unpopular figures take the managerial role, but it is hoped Farke can return them to the Premier League at the second time of asking. That's despite losing key players this summer, with optimism still high for the 2024/25 campaign.

It looks set to be an exciting campaign for the club in the second tier this season, with the Whites expected to be competitive under the two-time Championship winner. Leeds have the resources which should have them among the favourites for promotion this season under the guidance of Farke.

Farke will hope this season is much the same as last year, but that his side will get over the line at the final hurdle, meaning he can add another Championship promotion to his CV.

During Leeds' years in the wilderness outside of the top-flight, they have had plenty from the weird to the wonderful in the managerial position. Here, we take a look at those managers with the lowest win percentages in Leeds United's history.

5 Jack Taylor: 1.07

Perhaps best known for spells as a player with QPR and Norwich City, Jack Taylor had a brief career in management after his playing career ended.

Taylor spent seven years with QPR, but left in May 1959 to take over at Leeds. It proved to be a difficult time for him in the season he spent there as within a year Leeds were relegated to the Second Division.

He resigned in March 1961 to be succeeded by the great Don Revie, and Taylor would never managed in league football again.

Paul Heckingbottom will be known for being the manager of Preston North End, and has had previous strong stints in charge of EFL sides like Sheffield United and Barnsley.

However, before he took the hotseat at Bramall Lane, he had a spell in the dugout at one of their arch-rivals in Leeds, shortly after they poached him from Barnsley, where his work hadn’t gone unnoticed, as Leeds came calling for his services in February 2018.

His time at the club was short, but he did give plenty of their younger players a chance at the time. But the results were deemed not good enough, and four months after his appointment, he was sacked. He left with four wins and four draws in 16 games, with Leeds' hierarchy turning their attentions to Marcelo Bielsa instead.

Eddie Gray is a club legend for his playing days, whilst he also has a long-standing role with the club in both the media and management, as he worked in the club’s youth system before being made assistant manager to David O’Leary.

Gray left the club in 2003 after Peter Reid was appointed manager, but returned after his dismissal to try and keep the club in the Premier League. Gray was unable to do that, and has since become a club ambassador, co-commentator, and iconic figure who is regularly seen around the club.

However, from his time at Leeds as manager or caretaker, he oversaw 27 games, of which six were won, leaving him with a PPG of 0.93.

According to win percentage over 10 games or more, Uwe Rosler is Leeds’ worst manager, as he only won two of his 12 games in charge at the club, meaning he left with a win percentage of just 16.67%.

However, six draws saves him from being the outright bottom ranking on this list, as he is level with Javi Gracia in that respect with a PPG of 0.92.

Rosler was appointed manager in May 2015, but after a stuttering start to the season, he was sacked in October of that year and replaced by Steve Evans. Apart from a year-and-a-half long stint at Fleetwood Town, Rosler hasn’t managed in England since.

Javi Gracia is the most recent Leeds manager on this list, as the Spaniard was in charge of the club at the back end of the 2022/23 season.

He came in to replace the dismissed Jesse Marsch and was given a “flexible” contract. His first game in charge saw him beat Southampton 1-0, with impressive wins over Nottingham Forest and Wolves shortly after.

However, it didn’t get much better than that. Leeds started to spiral, and at the beginning of May, he was sacked by the club with four games remaining. He took charge of 12 games, winning three of them, meaning he had a PPG of 0.92.