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Leeds United, the very 'Leeds time', will return to the English Premier League (EPL) for the first time in two years.
Leeds confirmed their return to the top flight with two games remaining as Sheffield United lost 1-2 to Burnley in the 44th round of the English Championship (second division) in the 2024-2025 season at Turf Moor in Burnley, England on the 22nd (Korea time).
Leeds, which defeated Stoke City 6-0 on the 21st, maintained the lead with 27 wins, 13 draws, 4 losses and 94 points, while the gap with third-place Sheffield (86 points) widened to eight points. They have the same points as second-place Burnley (94 points), but they are 14 goals ahead of them in terms of difference. Leeds fans enjoyed a 'promotion party' with the squad when they heard the news of the promotion was confirmed.
If Bristol City wins on the 29th and Plymouth on May 3rd, they can easily confirm the championship.
Leeds returned to the EPL again in two years after being demoted to 19th place in the EPL after a slump in the 2022-2023 season led by current Canadian coach Jesse Masi, who was a candidate for the Korean national team. In the 2023-2024 season, he ranked third in the championship and advanced to the promotion playoff, but unfortunately missed the promotion ticket.
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Burnley, who was demoted to 19th place in the EPL in the 2023-2024 season, also returned to the familiar EPL in just one season. Burnley is well-known as a club that gave Son Heung-min the Asia's first Puskas award.
Leeds' start to the season has not been so smooth. Archie Gray moved to Tottenham, while Chrissencio Somerville left for West Ham. Striker Giorginio Luther also moved to Brighton.
But Leeds set up a strong squad in the league. The addition of defenders Joe Rodon and Manor Solomon from Tottenham, former Sheffield United full-back Jadon Bogle, former Bournemouth midfielder Joe Roswell and Japanese international midfielder Tanaka Ao boosted their team's strength.
Leeds, who won their first game of the season against Sheffield Wednesday, did not look back after rising to second place before the A-match break in November. From November to February, he went on an unbeaten run for as many as three months.
There was also a moment of crisis. He was mired in a slump, winning only one game in five games in March. Leeds manager Daniel Farke led the rebound with a bold decision to bench main goalkeeper Ilan Meslier, who made fatal mistakes against Sunderland and Hull City, and put in Carl Darlow.
Leeds, who have risen back to the front, have scored promotion after maintaining their recent four-game winning streak. As a result, coach Parke, who led two promotions in Norwich City in the 2018-2019 season and the 2020-2021 season, led his third EPL promotion, standing tall as a 'promotion evangelist'.
Farke said "There were three teams that showed outstanding performance. All showed consistency, and deserved to win. I don't want to be arrogant, but we deserved to win, too"I don't think it's a big change for me, but it would be really cool for the players. We have to take a step forward."
Meanwhile, Leicester City, currently ranked 19th in the EPL, and Southampton, ranked 20th, were relegated early to the Championship and traded places with Leeds and Burnley. Ipswich, ranked 18th, were virtually demoted as they were 15 points apart from West Ham, ranked 17th, with 36 points remaining in the EPL with five games left.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
