Smart move: HE’S BACK AGAIN!!!!!
Despite Yorkshire’s team faltering in the regular season, winning only one of their last six matches, Ipswich managed to claim the second automatic promotion spot behind Leicester.
Southampton, having beaten Leeds twice this season, including in their final match on May 4, will be confident.
Leeds has a poor track record in playoffs, failing to secure promotion in their last five attempts. This is a concern for the San Francisco-based 49ers Enterprises, which took full control of Leeds last July and includes shareholders like American golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas.
“This isn’t a regular game,” said Leeds left back Junior Firpo, who joined from Barcelona in 2021. “It’s not every day you play in a final. Whether it’s a playoff final or not, it’s still a final. It’s 90 minutes. It will be a nervy, difficult game, but if I had to pick a team for the final, I’d pick us.”
The financial stakes are high. Deloitte’s sports business group estimates a $180 million boost from increased matchday, broadcast, and commercial revenue if promoted to the Premier League. This could exceed 300 million pounds ($380 million) if the winner survives their first season back.
This would mark Farke’s third promotion to the Premier League, having led Norwich to the Championship title in 2019 and 2021. Southampton’s manager, Russell Martin, a former Scotland international who played under Farke at Norwich, took over in June last year. Under Martin, Southampton has adopted a possession-based, attractive style, proving a wise choice for Sport Republic, an investment firm led by Dragan Solak of United Group.
Solak acquired a majority share in Southampton in January 2022, but the club was relegated from the Premier League after his first full season, ending an 11-year stint in the top division. This period was notable for producing academy talents like Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott.
Southampton is also supported by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a self-proclaimed “massive football fan,” despite some public blunders discussing the sport. Sunak, the Conservative party leader, called a national election this week, so it’s uncertain if he will attend his team’s significant match at Wembley.
