Sheffield United: Chris Wilder reveals unlikely friendship with Leeds United manager Daniel Farke | OneFootball

Chris Wilder has had his say on Leeds United manager Daniel Farke ahead of Sheffield United facing Norwich City in the Championship...

Chris Wilder has enormous respect for Leeds United manager Daniel Farke, dating back to the time when Norwich City and Sheffield United were promoted together in 2018/19.

Ironically, it was a Marcelo Bielsa-led Leeds United side which was pipped to automatic promotion by the duo, with Norwich City finishing on 94 points and Sheffield United on 89. Leeds lost to Derby County in the play-off semi-final, with Aston Villa winning the play-off final.

That was Chris Wilder's second promotion with Sheffield United, having got out of League One in 2016/17 and the Championship in 2019. After Leeds won the title in 2024/25, Wilder missed out on a third promotion to Burnley and Sunderland, with the duo joining the Whites.

Farke beat Wilder twice last season, with a 2-0 win at Elland Road followed by a famous 3-1 win at Bramall Lane in February 2025. They eventually secured 100 points to win the title, while Wilder's side faltered.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder praises Leeds United boss Daniel Farke

However, that hasn't changed anything regarding his respect and admiration for the German. The pair are in separate leagues now but that hasn't stopped Wilder from pouring praise out onto Farke ahead of his side facing Norwich on Wednesday night.

Speaking to SUTV, as relayed by The Bladesmen on X (formerly Twitter), Wilder said: "Always good battles [with Norwich]. Going back to Daniel [Farke].

"Every time I speak to Daniel we have a little bit of a chuckle about it because we're pals and he did a fabulous job there and is doing a fabulous job at Leeds United.

Speaking about Norwich more specifically, he added: "There's always that little bit of pantomime regarding the fixture, started by me, I suppose. I think I start quite a lot of stuff! Nothing changes.

"Two well-established clubs that have been in the Premier League and top-end Championship clubs."

It's perhaps an unlikely friendship between Wilder and the German given their clashes over the years, but it appears the pair are on very cordial terms now - and they're no longer direct rivals as it currently stands.

The chances of Chris Wilder and Daniel Farke playing in the same league in 2026/27

Wilder has now managed Sheffield United across three separate stints, with the latest seeing them exit relegation danger and enter mid-table. A similar situation has occurred with Norwich and Philippe Clement, too.

Leeds, meanwhile, have somewhat turned their season around after a four-game losing run in November. They have lost four of the last 16 league games since, albeit only won four in that time and having lost the last two in a row.

The loss to Sunderland has cast their season into more doubt than a few weeks ago, with the threat of relegation larger. It's unlikely that Farke's side and Wilder's trade places, but one of the relegation or promotion outcomes for either side is likelier than it was mere weeks ago.

West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire clashes are always some of the most exciting, but Leeds will hope that it is due to Wilder gaining a miraculous play-off promotion rather than their side getting dragged below Spurs, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham United.