⥠âAlly McCoist Stuns Leeds Fans with Steven Gerrard Suggestion as Pressure Mounts on Daniel Farke â Elland Road Braced for Make-or-Break Runâ
The atmosphere at Leeds United is turning increasingly toxic as manager Daniel Farke faces the biggest test of his tenure so far. After a bright start to life back in the Premier League, Leedsâ campaign has hit the skids â and now even pundits are beginning to speculate about who could replace the German if results donât improve quickly.
And while supporters might have expected names like Graham Potter, Kieran McKenna, or even Marcelo Gallardo to be mentioned, TalkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist has dropped a bombshell by suggesting that Steven Gerrard could be a contender for the Elland Road hot seat.
The mere mention of Gerrardâs name has divided opinion, with many Leeds fans reacting in disbelief and frustration â describing McCoistâs idea as a ânightmare scenarioâ that would do nothing to steady the ship.
✠Leeds Unitedâs Stuttering Season
When the 2025 season kicked off, there was cautious optimism around West Yorkshire. Farke, who guided Norwich City to two Championship titles in his previous spells, seemed to be building something steady. Leeds looked disciplined, well-drilled, and hungry.
Early victories over Wolves and Everton, combined with hard-fought draws against Newcastle and Bournemouth, suggested Leeds could establish themselves comfortably in mid-table. But as the weeks have gone on, cracks have appeared â both tactically and mentally.
A run of four defeats in the last five league games, coupled with a dismal away record of five losses in six, has left the club teetering just above the relegation zone. The 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground felt like a breaking point.
What particularly angered supporters wasnât just the result â but the manner of it. Farkeâs decision to omit Willy Gnonto from the squad entirely, to deploy Jack Harrison in an unfamiliar left-back role, and to delay substitutions until the 74th minute raised serious questions about his judgment and tactical flexibility.
For many Leeds fans, that match symbolised everything wrong with the current setup: rigidity, hesitation, and a growing sense that the team has lost its identity.
đ§ The Manager Under Fire
Farkeâs calm demeanour and insistence on âtrusting the processâ are wearing thin. While he continues to argue that Leeds are undergoing a period of transition, the clubâs hierarchy is becoming increasingly concerned by the lack of progress.
Supporters who once backed him unconditionally now find themselves torn â appreciative of his professionalism, but unconvinced he can inspire the turnaround Leeds so desperately need.
âWeâre predictable. We play well in spells, but we never look like killing games off,â one fan posted on Leeds United Forum.
âFarkeâs a good man, but the Premier League doesnât wait for good men â itâs ruthless.â
The 49ers ownership group had intended to stand by Farke until at least the January window, but that stance could be tested soon. With fixtures against Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool all coming before Christmas, the German coachâs job could hinge on the teamâs performances in the next few weeks.
đïž Ally McCoistâs Shock Suggestion
Enter Ally McCoist â the former Rangers striker and current TalkSPORT pundit â who has added a fresh spark to the debate. Speaking on TalkSPORT Breakfast (12 November, 9:25 AM), McCoist discussed potential replacements for Farke and floated Steven Gerrard as a name Leeds should consider.
âWould Steven Gerrard be interested in the Leeds job? Youâve got to appreciate there is someone in the Leeds job right now. Itâs really important for Steven â his next appointment is absolutely vital for him,â McCoist said.
The comment immediately went viral. Within minutes, Leeds fans were reacting furiously online. Some mocked McCoistâs proposal as âfootballing madness,â while others saw it as another example of pundits not understanding the clubâs direction or expectations.
âAlly, mate, with all due respect â Gerrardâs had his chance,â one fan replied on X.
âWeâve been through enough experiments. We need a proper tactician, not another ex-player living off name value.â
đŽââ ïž Gerrardâs Rise and Fall
McCoistâs loyalty to his former Rangers captain is understandable â after all, Gerrardâs success in Scotland remains one of the most impressive managerial achievements in recent Rangers history. In 2021, Gerrard famously ended Celticâs nine-year dominance by delivering the Scottish Premiership title unbeaten.
That triumph earned him major plaudits, but his subsequent move to Aston Villa exposed flaws in his managerial approach. Despite an encouraging start, Gerrardâs Villa side quickly lost cohesion. During his 40 matches in charge, he won only 13, drew 8, and lost 19 â a record that saw him sacked less than a year into the job.
His next move â a big-money offer from Saudi Arabiaâs Al Ettifaq â was supposed to restore his reputation. Instead, itâs been another chapter of frustration. Despite coaching experienced professionals like Georginio Wijnaldum and Moussa DembĂ©lĂ©, Gerrardâs team has struggled for consistency, and the former Liverpool captain has cut an increasingly isolated figure on the touchline.
Now, nearly a year after leaving Al Ettifaq, Gerrard remains out of work â and McCoistâs suggestion has placed his name back into the English managerial rumour mill.
đ« Why Leeds Fans Reject the Idea
For Leeds supporters, Gerrardâs managerial CV simply doesnât inspire confidence. The majority of fans see his appointment as a sideways step, not an upgrade.
âIf we sack Farke just to hire Gerrard, weâve learned nothing,â one supporter wrote on Marching On Together.
âGerrardâs not a project manager. He needs a ready-made team. Leeds arenât that.â
Many have also pointed out Gerrardâs preference for possession-heavy football â a style that could clash with the high-intensity, pressing-based identity that Leeds fans crave and that was best embodied under Marcelo Bielsa.
Others believe the club must avoid another celebrity appointment and instead target a modern tactician with a proven record of developing players and building cohesion on a budget.
Names like Marco Silva, Kieran McKenna, and even Graham Potter have been floated by fans as more realistic and long-term options â if Farke does indeed face the axe.
đ§© The Boardâs Dilemma
Behind the scenes, the 49ers Enterprises group â who took full control of Leeds United in 2024 â are keeping a close eye on developments. The American ownership is reportedly reluctant to make another managerial change so soon after backing Farke over the summer, but they also know the stakes are enormous.
Premier League survival isnât just a sporting goal â itâs a financial lifeline. Relegation would cost Leeds upwards of ÂŁ100 million in lost revenue, sponsorship, and TV rights, meaning the board will have little patience if results continue to deteriorate.
Itâs understood that the hierarchy values Farkeâs composure and professionalism, but they are equally aware that fan unrest can quickly spiral into crisis. Should Leeds slip further into the bottom three before Christmas, the noise around Farkeâs future may become impossible to ignore.
đź What Happens Next?
For now, Daniel Farke remains in the Elland Road dugout, and the club insists there are no immediate plans to make a change. But football is a results business, and patience is running thin.
The upcoming fixture list looks brutal: a trip to Aston Villa, followed by showdowns with Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool. If Leeds fail to pick up points from those matches, pressure will intensify tenfold.
And as unlikely as it seems, if Ally McCoistâs words gain traction in the boardroom, Steven Gerrardâs name could yet become a genuine part of the conversation.
Still, for most supporters, the thought alone is enough to send shivers down their spine. Leeds fans have endured too much instability to roll the dice on another untested project.
âWeâve been down that road with big names before,â another fan wrote.
âWhat we need now is substance, not celebrity. Farkeâs struggling â but Gerrard isnât the answer.â
⥠Final Word
Leeds United are entering a critical phase â a period that could define the rest of their season. Daniel Farkeâs credibility is being tested like never before, and every decision he makes will now be scrutinised under a microscope.
As for Ally McCoistâs controversial call? It has succeeded in one thing: sparking debate. Whether Steven Gerrard ever becomes a serious candidate or not, the very fact that such names are being floated shows how uncertain things have become at Elland Road.
For now, the message is simple â results, and only results, can save Daniel Farke. If they donât come soon, Leeds Unitedâs winter could turn from frustration to full-blown crisis.