Why the Sporting Director sits alongside the Manager at Leeds United

Why the Sporting Director sits alongside the Manager at Leeds United

Written by

Simon Austin

January 20, 2026

Leeds United Sporting Director Adam Underwood has explained why he sits alongside and not above Manager Daniel Farke in the hierarchy at Leeds United.

There has been much discussion in recent weeks about the respective roles of Sporting Directors and Managers (or Head Coaches) and about who exactly is in charge, following public power struggles at Chelsea and Manchester United that ultimately led to the Head Coaches departing.

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