Leeds and Burnley secure Premier League returns

On Easter Monday, both Leeds United and Burnley secured their return to the Premier League with two games to spare in the current Sky Bet Championship campaign.

The two sides mathematically confirmed promotion on Monday evening after Burnley defeated fellow automatic promotion hopefuls Sheffield United 2-1 at Turf Moor, in turn condemning Chris Wilder’s side to the playoffs. The Blades now sit an unassailable eight points adrift of the league’s top two.

This season’s promotion establishes Farke as one of the most prolific managers in Championship history

Earlier that day, Leeds had virtually guaranteed promotion irrespective of the later result through their 6-0 Elland Road rout of Stoke City. Four of those goals came courtesy of Dutch striker Joël Piroe, moving him two strikes ahead of Norwich City’s misfiring Borja Sainz in the race for the Championship’s top scorer award.

Daniel Farke’s side recapture their top flight status following a two-year stint in the second tier, having fallen last season at the very last hurdle with a defeat to Southampton in the playoff final.

This season’s promotion establishes Farke as one of the most prolific managers in Championship history, having claimed two prior titles with former club Norwich in 2018/19 and 2020/21. Farke also boasts the second highest point per game among managers in Championship, behind only Burnley’s Scott Parker – albeit with almost double the games managed.

Parker himself has worked wonders in Lancashire since his summer arrival. Following Premier League relegation last term, The Clarets’ former head coach Vincent Kompany was lured to German powerhouses Bayern Munich. Kompany was not the only one to depart, with Parker overseeing a complete squad overhaul in the summer transfer window.

After somewhat of a shaky start by their usual Championship standards, Parker’s side have since strung together a club record run of thirty-one league games without defeat. They can equal Reading’s modern day second tier record of thirty-three if they remain unbeaten in their final two fixtures.

Both Farke and Parker will have their hearts set on clinching the Championship title in the last two games

Burnley’s top flight return also marks a third Championship promotion for Parker, who has previously guided Fulham and Bournemouth to the Premier League.

Just days after sealing promotion, rumours have been circulating regarding both managers’ futures at their respective clubs. Leeds’ American owners are reportedly considering ditching Farke on account of his poor Premier League managerial record. Farke won just six of his 49 top flight games as Norwich boss across two separate seasons, before being dismissed in November 2021.

Parker, on the other hand, is being tipped as a shock appointment at Tottenham Hotspur, with their current boss Ange Postecoglou rumoured to be heading for the door.

Before either side can look ahead to the future, the two are set to battle it out to see who will be crowned champions come the end of the season.

The two clubs currently sit level on 94 points, with Leeds occupying the top spot via a much superior goal difference. Both Farke and Parker will have their hearts set on clinching the Championship title in the last two games, earning themselves the extra bragging rights heading into the new Premier League season.

The Yorkshire side host playoff chasing Bristol City on Monday, before making the mammoth trip to Home Park to face Plymouth Argyle on the final day of the campaign. Burnley travel to face Queens Park Rangers this weekend, before hosting Millwall at Turf Moor.