Leeds United F.C.

Leeds United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club was formed in 1919 following the disbanding of Leeds City by the Football League and took over their Elland Road stadium. The club currently competes in the Premier League, the top flight of English football, following promotion from the EFL Championship during the 2019—20 season. Most of their history has been spent competing in the first tier of English football. Their longest continuous spell inside the first tier was a period of 18 years between 1964 and 1982, while their longest period outside of it spanned 16 years between 2004 and 2020.

For the television play, see Leeds - United!

Leeds United
Full nameLeeds United Football Club
Nickname(s)The Whites, The Peacocks
Short nameLeeds
Founded17 October 1919 (17 October 1919)
GroundElland Road
Capacity37,792[1]
Coordinates53°46′40″N 1°34′20″W
OwnerAser Group Holding (63%)
49ers Enterprises (37%)[2]
ChairmanAndrea Radrizzani
Head coachMarcelo Bielsa
LeaguePremier League
2019–20Championship, 1st of 24 (promoted)
WebsiteClub website

They have won three English league titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, two Charity/Community Shields and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups. The club reached the 1975 European Cup Final, losing to Bayern Munich. Leeds reached the semi-finals of the tournament's successor, the Champions League in 2001.[3] The club were also runners-up in the European Cup Winners Cup final in 1973. The majority of the honours were won under the management of Don Revie in the 1960s and 1970s.

Leeds play in all-white kits at home matches. The club's badge features the White Rose of York. The club's anthem is an original song released in 1972, "Marching on Together". Leeds share rivalries with Manchester United and Chelsea, as well as with local teams such as Huddersfield Town, Bradford City, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday.

History
Main article: History of Leeds United F.C.

Pre-Leeds United

Leeds United's predecessor, Leeds City, was formed in 1904 and elected to League membership in 1905. They drew bigger crowds to Elland Road following Herbert Chapman's arrival. In 1914 Chapman declared; "This city is built to support top-flight football", but Leeds City were forcibly disbanded and forced to sell off all their players by The Football League in 1919 in response to allegations of illegal payments to players during the First World War. In 1919, Leeds United was formed and they received an invitation to enter the Midland League, being voted into it on 31 October, taking the place vacated by Leeds City Reserves. Following Leeds City's disbanding, Yorkshire Amateurs bought their stadium Elland Road. Yorkshire Amateurs offered to make way for the new team under the management of former player Dick Ray.

The chairman of Huddersfield Town, Hilton Crowther loaned Leeds United £35,000, to be repaid when Leeds United won promotion to Division One. He brought in Barnsley's manager Arthur Fairclough and on 26 February 1920, Dick Ray stepped down to become Fairclough's assistant.

1920–1960
The first Leeds United team at the start of the 1920–21 season
A chart showing the progress of Leeds United through the English football league system

On 31 May 1920, Leeds United were elected to the Football League. Over the following years, they consolidated their position in the Second Division and in 1924 won the title and with it promotion to the First Division. They failed to establish themselves and were relegated in 1926–27. After their relegation, Fairclough resigned, which paved the way for Ray to return as manager. In the years up until the start of World War II Leeds were twice relegated; on both occasions they were re-promoted the following season.

On 5 March 1935, Ray resigned and was replaced by Billy Hampson, who remained in charge for 12 years. In the 1946–47 season after the war, Leeds were relegated again, with the worst league record in their history. After this season, Hampson resigned (he stayed with Leeds as their chief scout for eight months) and was replaced in April 1947 by Willis Edwards. In 1948, Sam Bolton replaced Ernest Pullan as the chairman of Leeds United. Edwards was moved to assistant manager in April 1948 after just one year as manager. He was replaced by Major Frank Buckley.

Leeds remained in the Second Division until 1955–56, when they once again won promotion to the First Division, inspired by John Charles. Charles was hungry for success at the highest level, and manager Raich Carter was unable to convince him that Leeds could satisfy his ambitions. Charles was sold to Juventus for a then world record of £65,000. The loss of Charles resulted in Leeds being relegated to the Second Division in the 1959–60 season.

1961–1974: Don Revie era
Don Revie statue outside Elland Road

In March 1961, the club appointed former player Don Revie as manager, following the resignation of Jack Taylor. His stewardship began in adverse circumstances; the club was "in financial difficulty"[4] and in 1961–62 only a win in the final game of the season saved the club from relegation to Division Three.[5] Revie implemented a youth policy and a change of kit colour to an all-white strip in the style of Real Madrid,[6] and Leeds won promotion to the First Division in 1963–64.

In the 1964–65 campaign, Leeds finished second to rivals Manchester United on goal difference.[7] They also reached the final of the FA Cup, losing 2–1 to Liverpool at Wembley after extra-time.[7] In the 1965–66 campaign, Leeds again finished second in the league,[8] whilst also reaching the semi-finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, losing on aggregate to Spanish side Real Zaragoza despite manager Revie ordering the fire brigade to flood the pitch before the replay at Elland Road.[9]

The 1966–67 season saw Leeds finish 4th in the league, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup, losing 1–0 to Chelsea and the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, losing 2–0 to GNK Dinamo Zagreb.[10]

With Leeds failing to land a trophy, they nearly doubled their record transfer in 1967–68, buying Sheffield United centre-forward Mick Jones for £100,000.[11] Leeds did win the League Cup with Terry Cooper scoring the only goal of a 1–0 victory in the final against Arsenal.[12] Leeds had little league and FA Cup success however, as they finished in fourth place and were beaten in the FA Cup semi-finals by Everton.[13][14] They instead reached a second successive Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final, beating Hungarian club Ferencvárosi over two legs. Leeds won the first leg 1–0, and a month later defended their lead with a 0–0 draw in Budapest.[15]

Having found success in both domestic and European cup competitions, manager Revie chose to focus on the league for the 1968–69 campaign.[16] Leeds secured the title in April 1969 with a 0–0 draw with challengers Liverpool at Anfield, whose supporters congratulated Leeds.[17] Leeds set a number of records including most points (67), most wins (27), fewest defeats (2), and most home points (39); a still-unbroken club record is their 34 match unbeaten run that extended into the following season.[18][19] Leeds reinforced their front line breaking the British transfer record by signing Allan Clarke from Leicester City for £165,000.[20] They targeted the treble in 1969–70 and came close to achieving this, only to fail on all three fronts in a congested close season, finishing second in the league to Everton, losing the 1970 FA Cup Final to Chelsea (after a replay), and exiting the European Cup with a semi-final defeat to Celtic.[21]

Having rejected an offer to manage Birmingham City, Revie chose to remain at Leeds for the 1970–71 campaign.[22] Leeds and Arsenal both challenged for the title that season, though it would be the Gunners who would claim the league title, finishing one point ahead of Leeds after the latter lost to West Bromwich Albion following a controversial "offside" goal.[23] United were also knocked out of the FA Cup by Fourth Division side Colchester United.[24] Leeds again found success in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup though, beating Juventus in the final on away goals.[25] Leeds again finished as runners-up in the 1971–72 season, but United did reach the 1972 FA Cup Final, lifting the trophy after a 1–0 victory over Arsenal in the final.[26][27]

In the 1972–73 season, the Whites again came close to a Treble, but they finished third in the league and lost the 1973 FA Cup Final to Second Division Sunderland 1–0 against all expectations.[28][29] Leeds also reached the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup against Italian club A.C. Milan at the Kaftanzoglio Stadium, where they were beaten 1–0 following some controversial refereeing by Christos Michas who was later banned by UEFA for 'fixing' other matches.[30] Revie was offered the managers role at Everton in the summer, but chose to remain at Leeds. They won the First Division with a five-point lead over second-placed Liverpool.[31] Revie chose to take the job of England national team manager at the end of the 1973–74 season.[32]

In his 13 years in charge, Revie guided Leeds to two Football League First Division titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups, one Football League Second Division title and one Charity Shield. He also guided them to three more FA Cup Finals, two more FA Cup Semi-finals, one more Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final and one Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Semi-final, one European Cup Winners' Cup Final and one European Cup Semi-final. The team also finished second in the Football League First Division five times, third once and fourth twice. In a survey of leading football writers, historians and academics by Total Sport magazine, Revie's Leeds United were voted as one of the 50 greatest football teams of all time.[33]

1974–1988: Post-Revie and relegation

Following the 1973–74 season, Revie left Leeds and Elland Road to manage the England national team. Brian Clough was appointed as Revie's successor. This was a surprise appointment, as Clough had been an outspoken critic of Revie and the team's tactics.[34] Clough's tenure as manager started badly, with defeat in the Charity Shield against Liverpool in which Billy Bremner and Kevin Keegan were sent off for fighting. Under Clough, the team performed poorly, and after only 44 days[35] he was dismissed.

Clough was replaced by former England captain Jimmy Armfield. Armfield took Revie's ageing team to the final of the 1974–75 European Cup, in which they were defeated by Bayern Munich under controversial circumstances.[36] Assisted by coach Don Howe, Armfield rebuilt Revie's team, and though it no longer dominated English football, it remained in the top ten for subsequent seasons. However, the board became impatient for success and dismissed Armfield in 1978, replacing him with Jock Stein, who also lasted just 44 days before leaving to manage Scotland. The board appointed Jimmy Adamson but he was unable to stop the decline and in 1980 Adamson resigned and was replaced by former player Allan Clarke. Despite spending freely on players, he was unable to stem the tide and the club was relegated at the end of 1981–82. Clarke was replaced by former teammate Eddie Gray.

With no money to spend on team building, Gray concentrated on youth development, but was unable to guide them to promotion from the Second Division.[37] The board again became impatient and sacked Gray in 1985, replacing him with another Revie teammate, Billy Bremner. Bremner found it just as difficult to achieve promotion, although Leeds reached the 1987 play-off final, but were defeated by Charlton Athletic. Leeds also endured a near miss in the FA Cup, losing out to Coventry City in the semi-finals.[38]

1988–1996: Howard Wilkinson era

In October 1988, with the team 21st in the Second Division, Bremner was fired to make way for Howard Wilkinson. Leeds avoided relegation that season, and in March 1989 signed Gordon Strachan from Manchester United for £300,000. The Scottish midfielder was named captain, and helped Leeds win the Second Division in 1989–90 and gain promotion back to the First Division.[39] Under Wilkinson Leeds finished fourth in 1990–91, and in the 1991–92 season they won the title of the last Division 1 as top tier, as the next season it was replaced by the Premier League. However, the 1992–93 season saw Leeds exiting the Champions League in the early stages, and eventually finishing 17th in the league (having won no away matches in the league), narrowly avoiding relegation. Wilkinson's Leeds were unable to provide any consistent challenge for honours, and his position was not helped by a poor display in the 1996 League Cup final which Leeds lost to Aston Villa. Leeds could only finish 13th in 1995–96, and after a 4–0 home defeat by Manchester United early in 1996–97, Wilkinson had his contract terminated. One of the legacies of Wilkinson and youth coach Paul Hart was the development of Leeds United's youth academy, which has produced numerous talented footballers over the years.

1997–2001: Graham and O'Leary
A statue of former Leeds' captain Billy Bremner, outside Elland Road sculpted by Frances Segelman

Leeds appointed George Graham as Wilkinson's successor. This appointment was controversial as Graham had previously received a one-year ban from The Football Association for receiving illegal payments from a football agent.[40] Graham made some astute purchases and also helped blood youngsters from Leeds' youth cup winning side. By the end of the 1997–98 season, Leeds had qualified for the following season's UEFA Cup. In October 1998, Graham left to become manager of Tottenham Hotspur, and Leeds opted to replace him with assistant manager David O'Leary.

Under O'Leary and assistant Eddie Gray, Leeds never finished outside the top five in the Premier League, and secured qualification for both the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League, enjoying cup runs to the semi-finals of both competitions. However, during the same period, the team's image was tarnished when players Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer were involved in an incident that left an Asian student in hospital with severe injuries. The resulting court case took nearly two years to resolve; Bowyer was cleared, but Woodgate convicted of affray and sentenced to community service. Additionally, in the UEFA Cup semi-final against Galatasaray in Istanbul, two Leeds fans were stabbed to death before the game.[41][42]

2001–2007: Financial crisis and fall to League One

Under chairman Peter Ridsdale, Leeds had taken out large loans against the prospect of the share of the TV rights and sponsorship revenues from UEFA Champions League qualification and subsequent progress in the competition. However, Leeds narrowly failed to qualify for the Champions League in two successive seasons, and as a consequence did not receive enough income to repay the loans. The first indication that the club was in financial trouble was the sale of Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United for approximately £30 million.[43] Ridsdale and O'Leary publicly fell out over the sale, and O'Leary was sacked and replaced by former England manager Terry Venables.[44] Leeds performed woefully under Venables, and other players were sold to repay the loans, including Jonathan Woodgate, whom Ridsdale had promised Venables would not be sold. Tensions mounted between Ridsdale and Venables and, with the team underachieving, Venables was sacked and replaced by Peter Reid.[45][46] Ridsdale resigned from the Leeds board and was replaced by existing non-executive director Professor John McKenzie. At this time Leeds were in danger of relegation, but managed to avoid the drop in the penultimate game of the season, beating Arsenal 3–2 at Highbury with a late strike by Mark Viduka.

Reid was given a permanent contract at Leeds the following summer and brought in several players on loan. An unsuccessful start to the 2003–04 season saw Reid dismissed, and Eddie Gray take over as caretaker manager until the end of the season. An insolvency specialist, Gerald Krasner, led a consortium of local businessmen which took over Leeds and oversaw the sale of the club's assets, including senior and emerging youth players of any value. Leeds were relegated during the 2003–04 season.

Following relegation to the Championship, assistant manager Kevin Blackwell was appointed manager. Most of the remaining players were sold or released on free transfers to further reduce the high wage bill; Blackwell was forced to rebuild almost the entire squad through free transfers, and Leeds were forced to sell both their training ground and stadium in the autumn of 2004.[47][48]

The board finally sold the club to Ken Bates for £10 million.[49] Under Blackwell, Leeds reached the Championship play-off final, which they lost to Watford.[50] With the team performing poorly, Blackwell's contract was terminated,[51] and Leeds hired John Carver as caretaker manager, but his spell was not a success and he was relieved of his duties, with Dennis Wise eventually installed as his replacement. Wise was unable to lift the team out of the relegation zone for much of the season, despite bringing in a number of experienced loan players and free transfers on short-term deals. With relegation virtually assured, Leeds entered administration on 4 May 2007, thus incurring a league-imposed 10-point deduction that officially relegated the club to the third tier of English football;[52][53] the club had previously never played any lower than the second tier. The players whom Wise had brought in were released; he was forced to build a squad almost from scratch, and because of administration Leeds were unable to sign any players until a few days before the opening game of the season.

2007–2010: League One

On 3 July 2007, HM Revenue & Customs lodged a legal challenge to Leeds' Creditors' Voluntary Agreement (CVA).[54] Under league rules, if the club were still in administration at the start of the following season, Leeds would have been prevented from starting their campaign by the Football League.[55][56] Following the challenge by HMRC, the club was put up for sale by KPMG,[57] and again Ken Bates's bid was accepted.[58] The League eventually sanctioned this under the "exceptional circumstances rule" but imposed a 15-point deduction due to the club failing to exit administration with a CVA, as the Football League rules required.[59] On 31 August 2007, HMRC decided not to pursue its legal challenge any further.[60]

Despite the 15-point deduction, Wise and his assistant Gus Poyet guided Leeds to a playoff position, only for Poyet to leave for Tottenham, and Wise quitting to take up a position at Newcastle United.[61] Wise was replaced by former club captain Gary McAllister.[62] Leeds went on to secure a place in the play-off final, but were beaten by Doncaster Rovers. The following season saw a poor run of results, and McAllister was sacked after a run of five defeats in a row. He was replaced by Simon Grayson, who resigned from his post as manager of Blackpool to take the position.[63] Under Grayson, Leeds made the play-offs once again, but were beaten over the two legs of the semi-finals by Millwall.

In the 2009–10 season, the team secured the best start ever to a season by a Leeds side, and caused a major upset in the third round of the FA Cup by beating Manchester United at Old Trafford.[64] After the impressive run in the FA Cup, Leeds' league form suffered, with the team taking just seven points from a possible 24. However, the team rallied and Leeds won their final game of the season to confirm promotion to the Championship as runners-up to Norwich City.

2010–2014: Return to the Championship

Leeds spent much of the 2010–11 season in the playoff places, but eventually finished in seventh place, just missing out on the playoffs.

In May 2011, it was announced that Leeds chairman Ken Bates had bought the club and become the owner of Leeds.[65] Before the match against Middlesbrough, about 300 Leeds fans protested about what they saw as a lack of investment in the playing side, to which Bates responded by calling the protesters "morons".[66]

Despite securing promotion to the Championship, Grayson was sacked after failing to mount a consistent challenge for promotion to the Premier League.[67] Neil Warnock was appointed as the club's new manager on 18 February, with his initial contract lasting until the end of the 2012–13 season.[68]

On 21 November 2012, Middle East-based private equity group GFH Capital finalised a deal for a protracted takeover of Leeds, gaining a 100% shareholding in the club. It was also announced Ken Bates would remain as chairman until the end of the 2012–13 season and then become club president.[69] The takeover was officially completed on 21 December 2012.[70]

Despite runs to the quarter-finals of the League Cup and the fifth round of the FA Cup (albeit with both runs ending in five-goal thrashings, by Chelsea and Manchester City respectively), Leeds's league form in the 2012–13 season was generally mediocre, with the club never making any real challenge for the play-off places. Warnock resigned with six games remaining, and Leeds just five points above the relegation zone.[71] Brian McDermott replaced Warnock, and the club won three of their final five games of the season, enough to avoid relegation. That summer, Bates stepped down as chairman, and ultimately left the club altogether a few weeks later following a dispute over expenses.

On 7 January 2014, Leeds United's managing director David Haigh was involved in Sport Capital, a consortium involving the managing director of Leeds United's main sponsors, Enterprise Insurance, Andrew Flowers. Sports Capital came close to completing a transaction with GFH Capital that would have given them a 75% stake in the business.[72]

On 30 January, Sport Capital's takeover collapsed due to a lack of "financial backing". Haigh released a statement conceding that it was unable to complete a deal despite two months ago agreeing to purchase a 75% stake in the club from the owners Gulf Finance House. Haigh said he and Sport Capital had "injected substantial sums into the club to ensure its viability" but earlier in the week fellow consortium member Andrew Flowers, the managing director of Leeds's shirt sponsor Enterprise Insurance, stated that GFH had "breached their covenant with us" after inviting a rival bid from Massimo Cellino, the president of the Serie A club Cagliari Calcio.[73] Haigh's statement read:

As fans know, we signed a share acquisition agreement with GFH Capital at the end of last year. This meant, I believed, that we were in a position to move things forward and complete the transaction in time for the January transfer window. ... Unfortunately, however, some of the consortium's backers ultimately didn't feel able to deliver the financial backing we had hoped was agreed to take the club forward.[74]

On 31 January 2014, under controversial circumstances, it was reported that manager Brian McDermott had been removed from his position as the club's manager following a string of poor results, while the controversy surrounding the club was resolved.[75] New club captain Ross McCormack expressed his support for the former manager.[76] By 3 February the BBC was reporting that McDermott had been called by a lawyer representing Massimo Cellino "and told he had been relieved of his duties". However, Cellino still did not own the club, as the Football League had not yet approved his purchase, so neither he nor his lawyer could sack the manager. McDermott, therefore, remained in his post.[77]

After weeks of speculation regarding the purchase of Leeds United,[78] on 7 February 2014, Leeds United had announced that they had exchanged contracts for the sale of Leeds to Cellino's family consortium Eleonora Sport Ltd. The deal saw the Cellino family acquire a 75% ownership of the club, subject to Football League Approval.[79]

At its meeting on 23 March 2014, the board of the Football League decided unanimously that Cellino's conviction by an Italian court meant that he did not meet its owners and directors test, so could not take over Leeds United.[80]

In the backdrop of Cellino's takeover, Leeds suffered an appalling second half of the season, dropping from the play-off places to the fringes of the relegation battle. In the end, the weak performances of the teams below Leeds meant that they were never in any real danger of going down, and a late run of wins put survival beyond doubt well before the end of the season. However, McDermott still resigned his position a few weeks after the season ended.

2014–2017: Cellino era

On 5 April, Cellino was successful in his appeal with independent QC Tim Kerr to take over the club.[81] The takeover was completed on 10 April, with Cellino's company, Eleonora Sport Limited, buying 75% of the club's shares.[82] Two months later, the inexperienced Dave Hockaday was surprisingly appointed head coach, with Junior Lewis hired as his assistant. After only 70 days, the pair were fired by Cellino.[83][84] Darko Milanič was given the head coach position in September 2014 becoming the club's first manager from outside the British isles and the first Slovene manager in English football, but left the club the following month.[85][86] On 1 November 2014, Neil Redfearn was confirmed as the new head coach.[87]

On 1 December 2014, Cellino was disqualified by the Football League after it obtained documents from an Italian court, where he was found guilty of tax evasion.[88] He was disqualified from running the club until 10 April 2015, and on 24 February 2015, Cellino announced he would not be returning to the club after his ban ended.[89] Redfearn was replaced by Uwe Rösler as head coach in the summer of 2015, but Rosler was himself replaced by Steve Evans after only a few months in the role.

On 30 October 2015, Cellino agreed a deal in principle with Leeds Fans Utd to sell a majority stake in the club.[90][91] When asked to legally commit to an exclusivity period to allow due diligence to commence, he reneged.[92]

On 2 June 2016 Garry Monk was appointed as the new head coach, replacing Steve Evans.[93]

On 4 January 2017, Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani purchased a 50% stake in the club from Massimo Cellino.[94]

At the close of the 2016/17 season, Leeds narrowly missed out on the Playoffs. Leeds had been in the Playoff positions for the majority of the season before a poor run of form in the final games saw them drop into seventh place. This was compounded by being knocked out in the Fourth Round of the F.A. Cup by non-league side Sutton United 1–0, who, at the time, were 84 places and 3 divisions below Leeds United.

2017–present: Radrizzani takeover and Premier League return
Players at Elland Road raising trophy to fans after winning the 2019–20 EFL Championship

On 23 May 2017, Radrizzani announced a 100% buyout of Leeds United, buying the remaining 50% shares from previous co-owner Massimo Cellino, with Radrizzani taking full ownership of the club.[95] Garry Monk resigned as head coach two days after the takeover, after one season at the club in which he guided them to seventh place.[96] In June 2017, former Spain international Thomas Christiansen was announced as the new head coach of Leeds, joining from APOEL.[97] This was followed by Radrizzani introducing Leeds United Ladies back to Leeds United ownership.[98] Also in June, Radrizzani completed the purchase of Elland Road from Jacob Adler's company, Teak Commercial Limited for £20 million, using his own company Greenfield Investment Pte Ltd.[99]

On 4 February 2018, Christiansen was sacked after a bad run of games (not a single win since Boxing Day 2017 across all competitions) leaving the team 10th in the Championship table. On 6 February, Paul Heckingbottom was confirmed as Christiansen's replacement, just four days after signing a new contract at Barnsley. On 24 May 2018, Leeds announced that 49ers Enterprises had bought shares in the club to become a minority investor. The 49ers Enterprises is the business arm of the NFL side San Francisco 49ers, owned by Denise DeBartolo York, Jed York and John York.[100]

Heckingbottom was sacked by Leeds on 1 June 2018 after being at the club for just four months.[101] Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa was named the club's new manager on 15 June, signing a two-year contract with an option of a third year. In doing so he became the highest-paid manager in Leeds United's history.[102][103]

Bielsa's first season in charge saw Leeds make an impressive start and Leeds remained in the top 2 with Norwich City for the majority of the season, on course for automatic promotion to the Premier League. However, a poor end to the season saw the team lose out on automatic promotion to Sheffield United.[104] They entered the playoffs against Derby County, but despite winning 1–0 in the first leg, ultimately lost 4–3 on aggregate, consigning them to another season in the championship.[105]

On 17 July 2020, after 16 years out of the Premier League, Leeds were promoted back to the top flight following West Bromwich Albion's loss to Huddersfield Town.[106] Stoke City's defeat of Brentford the following day confirmed they would go up as winners of the Championship.[107] Leeds had been in the top 2 for most of the season and had never dropped lower than 5th in the table, eventually going on to finish 10 points clear of West Brom in 2nd.[106]

Colours and badge

In Leeds' first 15 years, the club kit was modelled on Huddersfield Town's blue and white striped shirts, white shorts and dark blue socks with blue and white rings on the turnovers,[108][109] because Huddersfield's chairman Hilton Crowther was attempting to merge the two clubs.[109] He eventually left Huddersfield to take over at Leeds.

In 1934, Leeds switched to blue and yellow halved shirts incorporating the city crest, white shorts and blue socks with yellow tops.[109] The kit was worn for the first time on 22 September 1934.[109] In 1950, Leeds switched to yellow shirts with blue sleeves and collars, white shorts and black, blue and gold hooped socks. In 1955, Leeds changed again to royal blue shirts with gold collars, white shorts, and blue and yellow hooped socks, thus echoing the original Leeds City strip.[109] In 1961, Don Revie introduced a plain white strip throughout.

Badge

Leeds United's first badge appeared in 1934. Like Leeds City before them, the club adopted the Coat of arms of Leeds, which remained on the kit in various guises until 1961.[110] For a number of seasons after 1961–62, when the all-white strip replaced the blue and gold, the shirts sported no badge at all.

A perching owl badge was added to the strip in 1964. The design was a surprise given Revie's superstition about the symbolism of birds. The owl derived from the three owls that feature on the city's coat of arms, which in turn were taken from the coat of arms of Sir John Savile, the first alderman of Leeds. The owl was usually navy blue, but was coloured gold for the 1968 Football League Cup Final.[110]

Between 1971 and 1973, Leeds used the "LUFC" script that runs down the centre of the current badge, albeit in a diagonal fashion rather than the present vertical. The script made a reappearance on the 'retro-look' Asics kit used during the 1995–96 season. In 1973 came the embodiment of 1970s imagery with the iconic "smiley" badge, made up of the letters L and U in bubble writing. Revie's predilection for gimmicks was years ahead of its time, and done with the explicit intention of gaining acceptance from a public outside West Yorkshire.[109] In 1977, the smiley badge was rotated through 45° and the yellow and blue colours were reversed. The yellow smiley returned the following year, but was now enclosed in a circle surrounded by the words "LEEDS UNITED AFC".

In the 1978–79 season, a new badge appeared that was similar to that of the previous season, except now the words "LEEDS UNITED AFC" enclosed a stylised peacock (a reference to the club's nickname, "The Peacocks") rather than the yellow smiley.

In 1984, another badge was introduced which lasted until 1998, making it the longest lived of the modern era. The distinctive rose and ball badge used the traditional blue, gold and white colours, and incorporated the White Rose of York, the club's name, and a football (a truncated icosahedron similar to the Adidas Telstar, but in Leeds colours) in the core section.[110]

In the 1998–99 season, the club logo was replaced with a more "European" shield design. The shield retained the white rose, as well as the blue, gold and white colours, with "LUFC" reading vertically down the centre.[111] In 1999, the badge was slightly amended in that the football from the 1984 badge was added to the centre of the white rose.[110]

On 20 February 2019, Leeds United revealed a predominantly gold coloured badge that would be worn on the players' kit during the club's centenary season. The badge retained the existing shield design, but replaced the "LUFC" script with the words "LEEDS UNITED" above and "100 YEARS" below the shield. The crest also carried the date "1919", the year that the club was founded, as well as the centenary year "2019".

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

[112]

YearKit ManufacturerPrimary Shirt SponsorSecondary Shirt SponsorSleeve Sponsor
1972–1973Umbrononenonenone
1973–1981Admiral
1981–1983UmbroRFW
1983–1984Systime
1984–1985WGK
1985–1986Lion Cabinets
1986–1989Burton
1989–1991Topman
1991–1992Yorkshire Evening Post
1992–1993AdmiralAdmiral Sportswear
1993–1996ASICSThistle Hotels
1996–2000PumaPackard Bell
2000–2003NikeStrongbow
2003–2004Whyte and Mackay
2004–2005DiadoraRhodar
2005–2006Admiral
2006–2007Bet24Empire Direct
2007–2008Red KiteOHS
2008–2011MacronNetflights
2011–2014Enterprise Insurance
2014–2015Help-Link
2015–2016Kappanone
2016–201732RedClipper
2017–2019Southerns
2019–2020 Deliveroo
2020–2025AdidasSBOTOP none JD Sports

Stadium
Main article: Elland Road
Elland Road

Leeds United have only ever used one stadium as their home ground, Elland Road, where they have played at since their foundation in 1919. An all-seater football stadium situated in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, it is the 14th largest football stadium in England. Elland Road was previously occupied by their predecessors, Leeds City before their disbanding.[113] After their formation, the council allowed them to rent the stadium until they could afford to buy it. With the exception of periods from the 1960s until 1983, and from 1997 to 2004, the local council owned the stadium.[114] However, it was sold by the club in October 2004, with a 25-year sale-leaseback deal being agreed, and a commercial buy-back clause also included for when the club's finances improve sufficiently. Initially, the ground was the home of the Holbeck Rugby Club, which played in the Northern Rugby Union, the forerunner of the Rugby Football League.[115] One of Leeds' first nicknames, 'The Peacocks', comes from the original name of Elland Road – 'The Old Peacock ground'. It was named by the original owners of the ground, Bentley's Brewery, after its pub The Old Peacock, which still faces the site.[116] The newly formed Leeds City agreed to rent and later own Elland Road. After their disbandment, it was sold to Leeds United. The most recent stand at Elland Road is the East, or Family, Stand, a cantilever structure completed during the 1992–93 season that can hold 17,000 seated spectators. It is a two-tiered stand that continues around the corners and is the largest part of the stadium. The Don Revie Stand was opened at the start of the 1994–95 season, and can hold just under 7,000 seated spectators. The roof of the West Stand holds a television commentary gantry and walkway for TV personnel. Elland Road was named in December 2009 as one of the contenders for the England 2018 World Cup bid. As a result of the bid, Leeds drew up plans to redevelop parts of Elland Road and increase the stadium's capacity. Ken Bates also revealed plans to take out the executive boxes out of the South Stand to increase the starting capacity by a further 2,000–3,000. More executive boxes would be built in the east stand.

Alex Ferguson has said that Elland Road has one of the most intimidating atmospheres in European football.[117]

A statue of legendary captain Billy Bremner was unveiled outside the stadium in 1999 in the area known as 'Bremner Square'.[118] Then a bronze statue for Leeds' most successful manager Don Revie was also unveiled in 2012, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the club winning the FA Cup.[119] As part of the renovation of the Bremner statue in summer 2018, a 'Bremner Square XI' was announced.[120] The XI featured ten further 'legendary Leeds players' who have engraved stones featuring their key stats and achievements during their careers with Leeds United.[121]

On 28 June 2017, new Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani completed the re-purchase of Elland Road, via his investment company, Greenfield Investment Pte Ltd, the company used to buy Leeds. Leeds will have a period of paying no rent and be able to invest in other areas of the club.[99] In July 2018, Elland Road was voted 'Best Ground in the Championship' by football supporters.[122]

Supporters

In 2003, Peter Reid commented on the support at Elland Road after being relieved of his managerial duties, saying that "In 30 years I've never seen support like I did at the Leeds/Arsenal game a couple of weeks ago. The fans at Leeds are fantastic."[123] Two other former Leeds managers have also spoken highly of the club's supporters; Kevin Blackwell said "fans will follow them everywhere" and David O'Leary commented "There is an immense fan base and they are still with the club".[124]

Leeds supporters are renowned for singing the signature song "Marching on Together" before and during matches. Other notable songs Leeds fans sing during games include "We Are The Champions, Champions of Europe" (more commonly known as WACCOE) in reference to the 1975 European Cup Final which Leeds lost due to dubious refereeing decisions. Riots by the Leeds fans during the match led to UEFA banning the club from European competition for four years, although this was reduced to two years on appeal.

Famous Leeds supporters include: actor Russell Crowe, Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones, Mel B of The Spice Girls, the band Kaiser Chiefs, James singer Tim Booth, golfer Nick Faldo, actor and former footballer Vinnie Jones, boxer Katie Taylor, former England cricket captain Nasser Hussain, Game of Thrones actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, boxer Josh Warrington and many more.[125]

Leeds United supporters also have their own salute.[126] Leeds are 10th in the all-time average attendance figures for the Football League and Premier League.[127] They have the third most rivalries in the English League.[128] Sir Alex Ferguson once said that Elland Road has one of the most intimidating atmospheres in European football.[117]

An LGBT fans' group was formed in 2017 and will sit on the club's Supporters' Advisory Group.[129] There is a well-known hooligan firm amongst the fans known as the Leeds United Service Crew.

Rivalries
Main articles: Leeds United F.C.–Manchester United F.C. rivalry, Leeds United F.C.–Millwall F.C. rivalry, Chelsea F.C.–Leeds United F.C. rivalry, and West Yorkshire derby

Leeds United have rivalries with several clubs, including local rivalries with Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Bradford City and Huddersfield Town, and national rivalries with Manchester United, Chelsea and Millwall.

A rivalry with Turkish club Galatasaray was created after two Leeds fans were murdered in a fight between rival fans[130] before a UEFA Cup semi-final fixture with the club in April 2000.[131] When former Leeds player Harry Kewell moved to Galatasaray in 2008, it caused uproar with Leeds supporters.[132] Rival clubs such as Milwall mocked the tragedy that took place in Istanbul with offensive chants which added to the rivalry between the clubs.[133]

Alex Ferguson spoke on the rivalry between Leeds United and Manchester United stating that playing against Leeds was a "frightening experience... I have always said Liverpool versus Manchester United games are fierce in many aspects. Sometimes supporters can play a bad part in that particular game. But it never reaches the levels of Leeds United. Never."[134]

Media

Leeds United owned their own radio station, Yorkshire Radio, which broadcast on DAB Digital Radio and LUTV, before being closed in July 2013 by new owners GFH Capital, after outgoing president Ken Bates left the club.[135]

LUTV is the club's own internet television channel and app, and is available to watch online via a mix of freeview and a subscription service.[136] It features a daily news programme, player and staff interviews, match highlights (of the first team, the development squad and the under 18s) and live commentary of all Leeds matches by Thom Kirwin and former player and manager Eddie Gray. Alternative commentary is broadcast on BBC Radio Leeds by Adam Pope and co-commentator Noel Whelan.[137]

The club also published its own magazine, Leeds, Leeds, Leeds, which was first produced in 1998. In recent years, the magazine was taken out of circulation in newsagents and supermarkets, and so was only available to official club members by mail or by purchase in the official club shop. The magazine ceased publication in 2011.

After the takeover by GFH Capital, Leeds introduced a Leeds United official Twitter feed to help interact via social media.[138] GFH Capital also expanded the club's Facebook page and introduced Instagram accounts and further official Twitter pages for commercial ventures. The club also re-branded and re-designed the official club website in August 2013, with an integrated LUTV facility. The club also has an official Snapchat account too.

In October 2014, it was revealed that Ken Bates-owned radio station Radio Yorkshire would broadcast Leeds United games, thus sharing broadcasting rights with BBC Radio Leeds and LUTV for live matchday commentary of all Leeds United first team games.

Music
Main articles: Marching on Together and Glory Glory Leeds United

In April 1972, the Leeds squad released a single, "Leeds United" with the B-side being "'Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!'" (commonly known as "Marching on Together"). It was issued to coincide with the team reaching the 1972 FA Cup Final; the vocals on the original recording were by the Leeds team. The record reached number 10 in the UK Singles Chart.[139] After Leeds' promotion back to the Championship in May 2010, the song was digitally re-mastered and re-released in an effort to get the song into the UK Singles Chart. By 4 pm on Monday, the song was already at eighth in the iTunes store charts and top of both the Amazon and Play.com singles charts. On the Official Charts Company's Official Chart Update the song charted at 10 (for the second time in its history). Whilst it is not officially the club anthem, "Marching on Together" is played before every home game. Unlike many football songs that are just new words set to existing music, "Leeds Leeds Leeds" is an original composition by Les Reed and Barry Mason, written especially for Leeds United.

For many years, "Strings for Yasmin" by Tin Tin Out was played before kick-off at Elland Road; it was replaced in the 2008–09 season with "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor and in the 2009–10 season with "Dance of the Knights", composed by Sergei Prokofiev. Currently "I Predict a Riot" by Kaiser Chiefs is played before walk-outs: the band are LUFC supporters who named themselves after the former club of Lucas Radebe. "Nightmare" by Brainbug is currently played before the start of the second half.

Players

First-team squad
As of 16 October 2020[140]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  FRA Illan Meslier
2 DF  ENG Luke Ayling (vice-captain)
4 MF  ENG Adam Forshaw
5 DF  GER Robin Koch
6 DF  SCO Liam Cooper (captain)
7 MF  ENG Ian Poveda
9 FW  ENG Patrick Bamford
10 DF  MKD Ezgjan Alioski
11 FW  WAL Tyler Roberts
13 GK  ESP Kiko Casilla
14 DF  ESP Diego Llorente
15 DF  NIR Stuart Dallas
17 MF  POR Hélder Costa
18 MF  BRA Raphinha
19 MF  ESP Pablo Hernández
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 FW  ESP Rodrigo
21 DF  NED Pascal Struijk
22 MF  ENG Jack Harrison (on loan from Manchester City)
23 MF  ENG Kalvin Phillips
24 DF  ENG Leif Davis
25 GK  ITA Elia Caprile
28 DF   SUI Gaetano Berardi
30 FW  ENG Joe Gelhardt
35 DF  ENG Charlie Cresswell
42 FW  ENG Sam Greenwood
43 MF  POL Mateusz Klich
46 MF  ENG Jamie Shackleton
47 MF  ENG Jack Jenkins
49 DF  ENG Oliver Casey
52 DF  WAL Niall Huggins

Other senior players under contract

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  NED Ouasim Bouy

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
3 DF  SCO Barry Douglas (on loan to Blackburn Rovers until 30 June 2021)
33 DF  ENG Bryce Hosannah (on loan to Bradford City until 30 June 2021)
36 MF  ENG Robbie Gotts (on loan to Salford City until 30 June 2021)
34 MF  NIR Alfie McCalmont (on loan to Oldham Athletic until 30 June 2021)
44 MF  POL Mateusz Bogusz (on loan to Logroñés until 30 June 2021)
48 MF  ENG Jordan Stevens (on loan to Bradford City until 30 June 2021)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  WAL Matthew Turner (on loan to Haverfordwest County until January 2021)
— DF  BEL Laurens De Bock (on loan to SV Zulte Waregem until 30 June 2021)
— MF  IRL Eunan O'Kane (on loan to Luton Town until 30 June 2021)
— FW  ENG Ryan Edmondson (on loan to Northampton Town until 30 June 2021)
— FW  ESP Rafa Mújica (on loan to Las Palmas until 30 June 2021)
— FW  BUL Kun Temenuzhkov (on loan to Real Unión until 30 June 2021)

Reserves and academy
Main article: Leeds United F.C. Reserves and Youth Team

Notable players
Main article: List of Leeds United F.C. players

Non-playing staff

First-team staff
See also: List of Leeds United F.C. managers
Argentine Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds United's head coach
Position Staff
Head Coach Marcelo Bielsa[141]
Assistant Head Coach Pablo Quiroga[142]
Assistant Head Coach Diego Reyes[142]
Assistant Head Coach Diego Flores[142]
Goalkeeper Coach Marcos Abad[142]
Assistant Goalkeeper Coach Alessandro Barcherini
Head of Analysis Willy Alonso Salinas
Video Analyst Anthony Fulconis
Loan Manager Simone Farina [143]

Updated to match played 18 June 2018
Source: Leeds United and Yorkshire Evening Post

Medical & Performance team
Position Staff
Head of Medicine and Performance Rob Price[144]
Performance Analyst Diego Bermúdez Fernández
Fitness Coach Rubén Crespo[144]
Fitness Coach Benoit Delaval[142]
Sports Scientist Tom Robinson[145]
Sports Scientist Josh Snowden
Head Physio Henry McStay[146]
Assistant Physio Daryl Carter[147]
Assistant Physio William Atton[148]
Assistant Physio William Franklin
Club Doctor Rishi Dhand
Head Of Nutrition Nessan Costello[149]
Performance Nutritionist Andy Jenkinson

Updated to match played 18 June 2018
Source: Leeds United and Yorkshire Evening Post

Scouting team
Position Staff
Head of European Recruitment Gaby Ruiz[150]
Head of Football Development (Asia) Toshiya Fujita[150]
Head of Emerging Talent Craig Dean[151]
Scout Dani Salas[150]
Scout Paco Peral[150]
Recruitment Analyst Alex Davies[150]
Recruitment Analyst Andrea Iore[150]

Updated to match played 15 May 2018
Source: Yorkshire Evening Post

Under 23s and Academy staff
Main article: Leeds United F.C. Reserves and Youth Team

Owners and directors
Andrea Radrizzani Leeds United's majority owner

Source:[152]

Leeds United Football Club Limited ('LUFC') Owners Aser Group Holding (63% shares)
Leeds United Football Club Limited ('LUFC') Owners 49ers Enterprises (37% shares)[153]
Honorary President David Lascelles, 8th Earl of Harewood[154]
Chairman / Owner Andrea Radrizzani
Chief Executive Angus Kinnear
Vice-Chairman Paraag Marathe[155]
Director Andre Tegner
Director of Football Victor Orta[156]
Executive Director Paul Bell[157]

Updated to match played 1 May 2018
Source: Leeds United Official Website

League history
 

Managerial history

Honours
See also: List of Leeds United F.C. seasons and List of Leeds United F.C. records and statistics

Source:[158]

League

Cup

European
Main article: Leeds United F.C. in European football
  • The Damned Utd – A fictional best-selling novel by David Peace based on Brian Clough's tenure as manager of Leeds United.
  • The Damned United – A 2009 film based on the above novel.
  • The ground was featured at the end of an episode of BBC comedy series Porridge, when a released prisoner began to dig up the turf in the mistaken belief there was buried loot underneath. However, the actual ground was Loftus Road as it was next to the BBC Television Centre. The Leeds team was also referred to in another episode as being "hard but fair".
  • The Penalty King – A 2006 film about a Leeds United fan who goes blind after an accident and uses the Legend of Billy Bremner as inspiration to take up football again.
  • Leeds United – A Song by Amanda Palmer.
  • Gary Speed – A Song by Lars Vaular.[159]
  • Paint It White: Following Leeds Everywhere and Leeds United: The Second Coat – books by Gary Edwards, a man who has missed only one game, including friendlies, since he started watching Leeds United in 1968.
  • English: Own Goal – A BBC Schools Drama set in and around Elland Road based around a group of children who tackle criminals forging fake shirts and tickets.[160]
  • Since the club's dramatic demise in the 2000s, the phrase "doing a Leeds" has entered English football terminology to refer to the potential pitfalls faced by any club due to over-spending or failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions' league.[161][162][163][164]
  • When Leeds lose 'important' matches or lose their 'healthy' league position in a league tables towards the end of a season, opposition fans commonly sing a song called "Leeds Are Falling Apart" towards Leeds fan's which is based on the song "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division.[165][166][167]
  • Take Us Home: Leeds United – A 2019 television documentary series voiced by Leeds fan Russell Crowe on Amazon Prime.[168]

See also

References
  1. "Premier League Handbook 2020/21" (PDF). Premier League. p. 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  2. "49ers Enterprises increases Leeds United ownership stake to 37% after latest investment". www.leedsunited.com. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  3. "Leeds United F.C. History". Leeds United.com.
  4. "1961–62". Tony Hill. ozwhitelufc.net.au. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
  5. "The Definitive History of Leeds United – Review of 1961–62 Part 2 – The Difference". www.mightyleeds.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  6. Corbett, James (25 November 2007). "James Corbett on Don Revie". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  7. Sutcliffe, Richard. (2010). Revie:revered and reviled. Ilkley: Great Northern. p. 76. ISBN 9781905080786. OCLC 659245787.
  8. "Leeds United league performance history: League Division One table at close of 1965–66 season". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  9. Sutcliffe, Richard. (2010). Revie : revered and reviled. Ilkley: Great Northern. p. 82. ISBN 9781905080786. OCLC 659245787.
  10. "FA Cup Betting | 1966/67 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  11. Sutcliffe, Richard. (2010). Revie : revered and reviled. Ilkley: Great Northern. p. 89. ISBN 9781905080786. OCLC 659245787.
  12. "English League Cup Betting | 1967/68 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  13. "England 1967/68". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  14. "England – FA Challenge Cup 1967–1968". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  15. "European Competitions 1967–68". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  16. Sutcliffe, Richard. (2010). Revie : revered and reviled. Ilkley: Great Northern. p. 113. ISBN 9781905080786. OCLC 659245787.
  17. "The Definitive History of Leeds United – 1968/69 – Part 2 – Champions". www.mightyleeds.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  18. "The Definitive History of Leeds United – 1968/69 – Part 2 – Champions". www.mightyleeds.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  19. "Leeds United FC's series of 34 matches unbeaten in Division One". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  20. Sutcliffe, Richard. (2010). Revie : revered and reviled. Ilkley: Great Northern. p. 119. ISBN 9781905080786. OCLC 659245787.
  21. Sutcliffe, Richard. (2010). Revie : revered and reviled. Ilkley: Great Northern. p. 120. ISBN 9781905080786. OCLC 659245787.
  22. Sutcliffe, Richard. (2010). Revie : revered and reviled. Ilkley: Great Northern. p. 129. ISBN 9781905080786. OCLC 659245787.
  23. Sutcliffe, Richard. (2010). Revie : revered and reviled. Ilkley: Great Northern. p. 130. ISBN 9781905080786. OCLC 659245787.
  24. Sutcliffe, Richard. (2010). Revie : revered and reviled. Ilkley: Great Northern. p. 132. ISBN 9781905080786. OCLC 659245787.
  25. "European Competitions 1970–71". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  26. "Leeds United league performance history: League Division One table at close of 1971–72 season". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  27. "FA Cup 1971/72 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  28. "Leeds United league performance history: League Division One table at close of 1972–73 season". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  29. "The Definitive History of Leeds United – Matches – 5 May 1973 – Leeds United 0 Sunderland 1". www.mightyleeds.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  30. Sutcliffe, Richard. (2010). Revie : revered and reviled. Ilkley: Great Northern. p. 178. ISBN 9781905080786. OCLC 659245787.
  31. "Leeds United league performance history: League Division One table at close of 1973–74 season". www.11v11.com. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  32. "Revie agrees to manage England". The Glasgow Herald. 4 July 1974. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  33. "Total Sport Magazine" (3). Mappin Publishing. March 1996. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  34. Lappin, Tom (21 September 2004). "The manager with the Midas touch". The Scotsman. UK. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  35. "When should you sack the manager? (Page 17)" (PDF). Chris Hope. jbs.cam.ac.uk. April 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  36. "Welcome To Elland Road", Les Rowley & James Brown (1999), IFG Publishing, ISBN 0-9536338-0-2
  37. "1983–84". Tony Hill. ozwhitelufc.net.au. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
  38. "The Big Match: FA Cup Semi-Final – Coventry V Leeds (1987)". BFI. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
  39. "Gordon Strachan – Leeds United". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  40. "1996–97". Tony Hill. ozwhitelufc.net.au. Retrieved 26 November 2006.
  41. "Fans killed in Turkey violence". BBC News. BBC. 6 April 2000. Retrieved 17 September 2006.
  42. "Turk 'admits' stabbing Leeds fan". BBC News. BBC. 7 April 2000. Retrieved 17 September 2006.
  43. "United unveil £30m Ferdinand". www.telegraph.co.uk. 22 July 2002. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  44. Staff; agencies (8 July 2002). "Tel moves in at Elland Road". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  45. Thomas, Russell; Cassy, John (21 March 2003). "Venables heads for Leeds exit door". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  46. "Leeds turn over new leaf with Reid". The Guardian. 21 March 2003. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  47. "Leeds hopeful over new investors". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 October 2004. Retrieved 31 October 2006.
  48. "Leeds sell ground after bid fails". BBC Sport. BBC. 12 November 2004. Retrieved 31 October 2006.
  49. "Bates completes takeover of Leeds". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 January 2005. Retrieved 31 October 2006.
  50. "Leeds 0 watford 3". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 May 2006. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  51. Walker, Michael (20 September 2006). "Blackwell sacked by Leeds". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  52. "Leeds Utd calls in administrators". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2007.
  53. "Relegated Leeds in administration". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2007.
  54. "HM Revenue to challenge Leeds Utd". BBC Sport. 3 July 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2007.
  55. "Leeds 'may not start next season'". BBC News. 6 July 2007. Retrieved 6 July 2007.
  56. Conn, David; Scott, Matt (27 July 2007). "Leeds United: the unanswered questions". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
  57. "Debt-ridden Leeds put up for sale". BBC News. 6 July 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2007.
  58. "Leeds United resold to Ken Bates". BBC News. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2007.
  59. "Leeds hit with 15-point penalty". BBC Sport. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  60. Robinson, Paul (31 August 2007). "Taxman pulls out of Leeds United court challenge". Yorkshire Evening Post. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
  61. "Wise quits Leeds for Magpies role". BBC Sport. 28 January 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  62. "McAllister named new Leeds boss". BBC Sport. 29 January 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  63. "Blackpool consider legal action over Grayson's Leeds appointment". London: The Guardian (guardian.co.uk). 23 December 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
  64. "Man Utd 0–1 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  65. "Leeds confirm Bates as new owner". BBC News. 3 May 2011.
  66. "Ken Bates lambasts Leeds United 'morons' for protests against him | Football | guardian.co.uk". The Guardian. London. Press Association. 17 August 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  67. Simon Grayson sacked as manager by Leeds United. BBC Sport. (1 February 2012). Retrieved 19 August 2013
  68. "Warnock takes Leeds reins". Sky Sports. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  69. "Leeds United: GFH Capital finalise takeover deal". BBC Sport. 21 November 2012.
  70. "Leeds United: GFH Capital completes takeover". BBC Sport. 21 December 2012.
  71. "Neil Warnock 'parts company' with Leeds United". BBC Sport. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  72. Leeds United (7 January 2014). "Leeds United takeover by consortium will allow manager Brian McDermott to strengthen squad". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  73. Riach, James (30 January 2014). "Leeds United in disarray after takeover collapses over lack of cash". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  74. "Leeds United takeover deal collapses". The Daily Telegraph.
  75. "BBC Sport – Brian McDermott: Leeds United manager sacked". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  76. "Leeds sack McDermott". Goal.com. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  77. "Brian McDermott: Leeds United boss vows not to walk away". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  78. "Consortium looks to re-open Leeds takeover talks as Cellino closes on deal". Sky News. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  79. "Statements from our Owners". Leeds United. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  80. "Football League statement – Massimo Cellino". The Football League. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  81. "Massimo Cellino wins appeal against Football League". Sky Sports. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  82. "Massimo Cellino completes Leeds United takeover". The Telegraph. London. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  83. "Club Statement: David Hockaday". Leeds United. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  84. "Leeds United on Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  85. "United confirm darko milanic". Leeds United Official Website. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  86. "Leeds United on Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  87. "Neil Redfearn appointed as Leeds United head coach". BBC Sport.
  88. "Leeds owner Massimo Cellino disqualified by Football League". BBC Sport. 1 December 2014.
  89. "Massimo Cellino: Leeds United president 'not returning' in April". BBC Sport. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  90. "Cellino agrees to sell Leeds to fans". BBC. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  91. "Leeds Fans United are set to buy a majority stake in the club". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  92. "Cellino calls off Leeds fans deal". BBC. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  93. "Garry Monk: Leeds United appoint former Swansea City boss". BBC. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  94. "Leeds United: Owner Massimo Cellino sells 50% stake to Italian businessman". BBC Sport. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  95. "Club Statement". Leeds United F.C. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  96. "Garry Monk: Leeds United head coach resigns after one season". BBC. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  97. "Thomas Christiansen: Leeds United name ex-Spain international as head coach". BBC News. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  98. "Leeds United Ladies are Back". Leeds United. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  99. Hay, Phil (28 June 2017). "Leeds United become owners of Elland Road once again". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  100. "San Francisco 49ers Enterprises Become Minority Investor". Leeds United Football Club. 24 May 2018. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  101. "Paul Heckingbottom: Leeds United sack head coach after less than four months". BBC Sport. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  102. "Marcelo Bielsa Named Head Coach". Leeds United. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  103. "Leeds United confirm Marcelo Bielsa appointment". Yorkshire Evening Post. 15 June 2018. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  104. "Leeds 1 Wigan 2". BBC Sport. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  105. "Leeds United 2–4 Derby County (Derby win 4–3 on agg)". BBC Sport. 15 May 2019.
  106. Smee, Gary (17 July 2020). "Championship: Leeds United promoted to Premier League after 16-year absence". BBC Sport.
  107. "Championship: Brentford lose at Stoke to confirm Leeds as champions". BBC Sport. 18 July 2020.
  108. "Leeds United". Dave Moor. Historical Kits. August 2006. Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  109. "Mighty Mighty Whites". Leeds United Fan Club. mightyleeds.co.uk. 2006. Retrieved 25 December 2006.
  110. "Leeds United". historicalkits.co.uk. Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  111. "History of the Club – the birth of Leeds United". mightyleeds.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 December 2006. Retrieved 26 December 2006.
  112. "Leeds United – Historical Football Kits". www.historicalkits.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  113. "Leeds United – Records, Achievements & Tidbits". wafll.com. Retrieved 3 April 2008.
  114. "Fan's Briefing Paper". John Boocock. Leeds Sporting PLC. 13 August 2001. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
  115. "Mighty Mighty Whites". Leeds United Fan Club. mightyleeds.co.uk. 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2007.
  116. "WAFLL – Elland Road History". WAFLL. Retrieved 8 May 2007.
  117. Shaw, Phil (27 September 1997). "Football: Ferguson prepared for Elland Road examination". The Independent. UK. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  118. "A square deal Leeds United plan stylish revamp of area around Bremner statue". Yorkshire Evening Post. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  119. "Don Revie statue unveiled 40 years after FA Cup victory". BBC Sport. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  120. "Bremner's XI: Vote Now". Leeds United. 11 December 2018. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  121. "Player of the Year 2018 Winners". Leeds United. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  122. Evans, Alex (18 July 2018). "Elland Road Voted Best Ground in the Championship". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  123. "Reid reveals regret". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 November 2003. Retrieved 5 May 2007.
  124. "Ex-bosses tip fans to boost Leeds". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 August 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
  125. "Leeds United's 50 celebrity fans from across the world, including Game of Thrones star and politicians". leeds-live.co.uk.
  126. "The (Un)official Story of the Leeds Salute". LeedsUnited.com. 25 June 2009. Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  127. "All Time League Attendance Records". Niall Mackenzie. Newcastle's Unofficial Fans Collaboration. 4 September 2006. Archived from the original on 7 September 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2006.
  128. "Rivalry Uncovered!" (PDF). Football Fans Census. footballfanscensus.com. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2006.
  129. "Leeds United endorse new LGBT Supporters Group". Radio Yorkshire. 2 August 2017. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  130. Chaudhury, Vivek; Taylor, Daniel (4 April 2003). "Stabbing inquest likely to raise tension". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  131. "Fans killed in Turkey violence". BBC News. 6 April 2000.
  132. "When Saturday Comes – The Half Decent Football Magazine – Kewell move angers Leeds fans". Wsc.co.uk. 17 July 2008. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  133. Gover, Dominic (30 September 2013). "Leeds United Fans Complain to Police Over 'Millwall Istanbul Chants'". International Business Times. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  134. "Sir Alex Ferguson: atmosphere before Leeds match was 'frightening'". The Guardian. 23 September 2011.
  135. "Yorkshire Radio Homepage". Yorkshireradio.net. 27 January 2010. Archived from the original on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  136. "LUTV". Sport247.tv. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  137. "Features and Shows". Yorkshireradio.net. 27 January 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  138. "New Twitter account proves popular..." Leeds United Official Site. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  139. Guinness British Hit Singles 12th Edition. Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-092-X.
  140. "First team". Leeds United F.C. 5 October 2020.
  141. "Marcelo Bielsa Named Head Coach". Leeds United F.C. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  142. "Full list of Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa's backroom staff at Elland Road". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  143. Smith, George (10 October 2019). "Leeds United's new loan manager Simone Farina profiled". LeedsLive.
  144. Philip Buckingham (26 June 2018). "Hull City's backroom team undergoes summer overhaul ahead of the new season". Hull Live. Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  145. "United Enter Catapult Partnership". Leeds United F.C. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  146. Phil Hay (2 August 2018). "Leeds United: Physio' Price seems right man for new boss Bielsa". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  147. "LEEDS BECKETT PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES TO GROW". Leeds United =. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  148. "Yorkshire Sports Medicine". www.yorkshiresportsmedicine.co.uk.
  149. "Leeds United Performance Nutrition & Leeds Beckett University". Leeds Beckett University. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  150. Phil Hay. "Phil Hay: Leeds United's scouting network is paying dividends". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  151. Phil Hay (9 October 2017). "Leeds United net Oxford scout as Diagouraga joins Pilgrims". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  152. "Ownership structure – Leeds United". www.leedsunited.com. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  153. "49ers Enterprises increases Leeds United ownership stake to 37% after latest investment". www.leedsunited.com. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  154. "EARL OF HAREWOOD NAMED HONORARY PRESIDENT". www.leedsunited.com. 1 February 2019. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  155. "49ers Enterprises increases Leeds United ownership stake to 37% after latest investment". www.leedsunited.com. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  156. "Director of Football Appointed". www.leedsunited.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  157. "United Appoint New Executive Director". www.leedsunited.com. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  158. "Leeds United: Honours". Leeds United. Leeds United Football Club. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  159. "Video: Leeds United Norwegian fan's Gary Speed tribute causes a stir". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  160. "BFI – Film & Database – Own Goal (2000)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  161. "Road to ruin". The Herald. Newsquest. 17 February 2007. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2010. The first thing which comes to mind about Leeds United today is...their freefall, the collapse into the state they are in now because of Ridsdale's ruinous decision-making. They have become the biggest victim of all the money which has washed around English football in the Premiership era. Every other board of directors in the land is frightened of "doing a Leeds".
  162. Wilson, Paul (23 March 2003). "Catchy Toon could be a classic". The Guardian. UK. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2010. ...'doing a Leeds' has entered the language of English football. There is now an understandable worry that any club trying to haul themselves up on the Champions League ladder will crash spectacularly to earth in a couple of seasons.
  163. Lovejoy, Joe (20 February 2005). "Everton 0 Manchester 2: Irresistible United march on". The Times. UK. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2010. those erstwhile fans turning on him now should ponder the fact that his £28m transfer probably saved their club from "doing a Leeds", as financial meltdown has come to be known
  164. Robson, Leo (25 March 2009). "Damned to football". The Times. UK. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2010. This is the fate to which Peter Ridsdale, the chairman from 1997 until 2003, consigned the club with his profligacy and risk-taking; the phrase "doing a Leeds" is now a recognized one to describe a major club that fades away
  165. "Are Leeds falling apart again?". Goal. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  166. ""Leeds, Leeds are falling apart again" West Brom fans react as Sheffield United victory dumps Leeds United back in Championship play-off scrap". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  167. "'Leeds United are falling apart again!' Rival fans poke fun at Championship club after Garry Monk's shock exit". TalkSport. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  168. "Take Us Home: Leeds United". Imdb. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.