Association football club in England

football clubhouse
Leeds United Football Club is an english master football cabaret based in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club was formed in 1919 following the disband of Leeds City by the Football League and took over their Elland Road stadium. The club presently competes in the Premier League, the peak flight of English football, following forwarding 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 inaugural 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.

They have won three English league titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, two Charity/Community Shields and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups. The majority of the honours were won under the management of Don Revie in the 1960s and 1970s. 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 besides runner-up in the european Cup Winners Cup final in 1973. Their most late respect was winning the league style in 1992. Leeds play in all-white kits at home matches. The club ‘s badge features the White Rose of York, which is a symbol of Yorkshire. The club ‘s anthem is an original song released in 1972, “ Marching on Together “. Leeds plowshare rivalries with Manchester United and Chelsea, deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as with local teams such as Huddersfield Town, Bradford City, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday .

history

Pre-Leeds United

Leeds United ‘s predecessor, Leeds City, was formed in 1904 and elected to League membership in 1905. They drew bigger crowd 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 seat vacated by Leeds City Reserves. Following Leeds City ‘s disband, Yorkshire Amateurs bought their stadium Elland Road. Yorkshire Amateurs offered to make way for the raw team under the management of former musician Dick Ray. The president 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 director 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 temper On 31 May 1920, Leeds United were elected to the Football League. Over the trace years, they consolidated their stead 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 coach. In the years up until the start of World War II Leeds were doubly relegated ; on both occasions they were re-promoted the follow season. On 5 March 1935, Ray resigned and was replaced by Billy Hampson, who remained in mission 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 headman scout for eight months ) and was replaced in April 1947 by Willis Edwards. In 1948, Sam Bolton replaced Ernest Pullan as the chair of Leeds United. Edwards was moved to assistant director in April 1948 after precisely one year as coach. He was replaced by Major Frank Buckley. Leeds remained in the Second Division until 1955–56, when they once again north korean won promotion to the First Division, inspired by John Charles. Charles was athirst for success at the highest level, and director Raich Carter was ineffective to convince him that Leeds could satisfy his ambitions. Charles was sold to Juventus for a then global record of £65,000. The passing of Charles resulted in Leeds being relegated to the Second Division in the 1959–60 season .

1961–1974 : Don Revie earned run average

Don Revie statue outside Elland Road In March 1961, the club appointed early player Don Revie as director, following the resignation of Jack Taylor. His stewardship began in adverse circumstances ; the golf club was “ in fiscal difficulty ” [ 4 ] and in 1961–62 only a acquire in the final game of the season saved the club from delegating to Division Three. [ 5 ] Revie implemented a young policy and a change of kit color to an all-white denude 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 finish average. [ 7 ] They besides 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 besides reaching the semi-finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, losing on aggregate to Spanish english Real Zaragoza despite coach Revie ordering the fire brigade to flood the peddle before the replay at Elland Road. [ 9 ] The 1966–67 season saw Leeds finish 4th in the league, vitamin a 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 about doubled their record transfer in 1967–68, buying Sheffield United centre-forward Mick Jones for £100,000. [ 11 ] The season saw Leeds win their foremost major trophy, the League Cup, with Terry Cooper scoring the alone finish of a 1–0 victory against Arsenal in the final examination. [ 12 ] Leeds finished one-fourth in the First Division and were beaten in the FA Cup semi-finals by Everton. [ 13 ] [ 14 ] They besides reached a second consecutive Inter-Cities Fairs Cup concluding and this time won the trophy, beating hungarian cabaret Ferencvárosi over two legs ; Leeds won the first leg 1–0, and a calendar month later defended their precede with a 0–0 draw in Budapest. [ 15 ] Having found success in both domestic and european cup competitions, coach Revie chose to focus on the league for the 1968–69 campaign. [ 16 ] Leeds secured the style in April 1969 with a 0–0 draw with challengers Liverpool at Anfield, whose supporters congratulated Leeds. [ 17 ] Leeds set a count of records including most points ( 67 ), most wins ( 27 ), fewest defeats ( 2 ), and most dwelling points ( 39 ) ; a still-unbroken club record is their 34 match unbeaten run that extended into the follow season. [ 18 ] [ 19 ] Leeds reinforced their front pipeline breaking the british transfer read by signing Allan Clarke from Leicester City for £165,000. [ 20 ] They targeted the soprano in 1969–70 and came close to achieving this, only to fail on all three fronts in a congested close temper, finishing second in the league to Everton, losing the 1970 FA Cup Final to Chelsea ( after a play back ), and exiting the european Cup with a semi-final kill 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 entitle that temper, though it would be the Gunners who would claim the league style, finishing one steer ahead of Leeds after the latter lost to West Bromwich Albion following a controversial “ offside ” goal. [ 23 ] United were besides knocked out of the FA Cup by Fourth Division slope Colchester United. [ 24 ] Leeds again found success in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup though, beating Juventus in the final examination on away goals. [ 25 ] Leeds again finished as runner-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 soprano, 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 besides reached the final examination 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 referee by Christos Michas who was by and by banned by UEFA for ‘fixing ‘ other matches. [ 30 ] Revie was offered the managers function at Everton in the summer, but chose to remain at Leeds. They won the First Division with a five-point run over second-placed Liverpool. [ 31 ] Revie choose to take the caper of England national team director 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 championship and one Charity Shield. He besides 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 besides finished moment in the Football League First Division five times, third base once and fourth twice. In a surveil 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 blunt critic of Revie and the team ‘s tactics. [ 34 ] Clough ‘s tenure as coach started badly, with get the better of in the Charity Shield against Liverpool in which Billy Bremner and Kevin Keegan were sent off for fighting. Under Clough, the team performed ailing, and after merely 44 days [ 35 ] he was dismissed. Clough was replaced by early 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 bus Don Howe, Armfield rebuilt Revie ‘s team, and though it no longer dominated English football, it remained in the peak ten-spot for subsequent seasons. however, the dining table became impatient for success and dismiss Armfield in 1978, replacing him with Jock Stein, who besides lasted precisely 44 days before leaving to manage Scotland. The board appointed Jimmy Adamson, but he was unable to stop the refuse, and in 1980 Adamson resigned and was replaced by former player Allan Clarke. Despite spending freely on players, he was ineffective to stem the tide, and the clubhouse was relegated at the end of 1981–82. Clarke was replaced by former teammate Eddie Gray. With no money to spend on team construction, Gray concentrated on youth development, but was unable to guide them to forwarding from the Second Division. [ 37 ] The board again became impatient and sack Gray in 1985, replacing him with another Revie teammate, Billy Bremner. Bremner found it just as difficult to achieve forwarding, although Leeds reached the 1987 play-off final, but were defeated by Charlton Athletic. Leeds besides 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 means 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 forwarding back to the First Division. [ 39 ] Leeds finished fourthly in 1990–91, and in the 1991–92 season they became champions of England for the third time. During the near temper Leeds were founder members of the new Premier League, which became the top part of English football. however, the 1992–93 temper saw Leeds exiting the Champions League in the early on stages, and finally 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 honor, and his position was not helped by a poor display in the 1996 League Cup concluding which Leeds lost to Aston Villa. Leeds could only finish 13th in 1995–96, and after a 4–0 home frustration by Manchester United early in 1996–97, Wilkinson had his sign terminated. One of the legacies of Wilkinson and youth coach Paul Hart was the exploitation of Leeds United ‘s youth academy, which has produced numerous talented footballers over the years .

1997–2001 : Graham and O’Leary

Leeds appointed George Graham as Wilkinson ‘s successor. This date was controversial as Graham had previously received a annual ban from The Football Association for receiving illegal payments from a football agent. [ 40 ] Graham made some astute purchases and besides helped blood youngsters from Leeds ‘ young person cup winning side. By the end of the 1997–98 season, Leeds had qualified for the watch season ‘s UEFA Cup. In October 1998, Graham left to become director of Tottenham Hotspur, and Leeds opted to replace him with adjunct coach David O’Leary. Under O’Leary and adjunct Eddie Gray, Leeds never finished outside the circus tent 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 lapp period, the team ‘s persona was tarnished when players Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer were involved in an incident that left an asian scholar in hospital with severe injuries. The resulting motor hotel sheath took closely 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 : fiscal crisis and fall to League One

Under chair Peter Ridsdale, Leeds had taken out big loans against the prospect of the share of the television rights and sponsorship revenues from UEFA Champions League reservation and subsequent progress in the contest. however, Leeds narrowly failed to qualify for the Champions League in two consecutive seasons, and as a consequence did not receive adequate income to repay the loans. The first reading that the club was in fiscal 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 coach Terry Venables. [ 44 ] Leeds performed deplorably under Venables, and early 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 underachieve, Venables was sacked and replaced by Peter Reid. [ 45 ] [ 46 ] Ridsdale resigned from the Leeds dining table and was replaced by existing non-executive director Professor John McKenzie. At this fourth dimension Leeds were in danger of relegation, but managed to avoid the devolve 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 abridge at Leeds the follow summer and lend in several players on loanword. An unsuccessful starting signal to the 2003–04 season saw Reid dismissed, and Eddie Gray take over as caretaker coach until the end of the temper. An insolvency specialist, Gerald Krasner, led a consortium of local businessmen which took over Leeds and oversaw the sale of the golf club ‘s assets, including senior and emerging young person players of any rate. Leeds were relegated during the 2003–04 season. Following relegation to the Championship, adjunct coach Kevin Blackwell was appointed coach. Most of the remaining players were sold or released on exempt transfers to further reduce the high engage beak ; Blackwell was forced to rebuild about the integral squad through barren transfers, and Leeds were forced to sell both their train ground and stadium in the fall of 2004. [ 47 ] [ 48 ] The display panel finally sold the club to Ken Bates for £10 million. [ 49 ] Under Blackwell, Leeds reached the Championship play-off concluding, which they lost to Watford. [ 50 ] With the team performing ailing, Blackwell ‘s compress was terminated, [ 51 ] and Leeds hired John Carver as caretaker director, but his spell was not a success and he was relieved of his duties, with Dennis Wise finally installed as his surrogate. Wise was ineffective to lift the team out of the relegation partition for much of the temper, despite bringing in a issue of know loan players and barren transfers on short-run deals. With relegation virtually assured, Leeds entered administration on 4 May 2007, frankincense incurring a league-imposed 10-point tax write-off that officially relegated the club to the third base grade of English football ; [ 52 ] [ 53 ] the cabaret 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 team about from strike, 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 ‘ volunteer Agreement ( CVA ). [ 54 ] Under league rules, if the club were however in presidency at the depart of the pursue season, Leeds would have been prevented from starting their campaign by the Football League. [ 55 ] [ 56 ] Following the challenge by HMRC, the golf club was put up for sale by KPMG, [ 57 ] and again Ken Bates ‘s bid was accepted. [ 58 ] The League finally sanctioned this under the “ exceeding circumstances rule ” but imposed a 15-point deduction due to the club failing to exit presidency with a CVA, as the Football League rules required. [ 59 ] On 31 August 2007, HMRC decided not to pursue its legal challenge any farther. [ 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 postdate season saw a poor function of results, and McAllister was sacked after a melt of five defeats in a row. He was replaced by Simon Grayson, who resigned from his post as director of Blackpool to take the status. [ 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 golf of the FA Cup by beating Manchester United at Old Trafford. [ 64 ] After the impressive run in the FA Cup, Leeds ‘ league shape suffered, with the team taking good seven points from a possible 24. however, the team rallied and Leeds won their final game of the season to confirm forwarding to the Championship as runner-up to Norwich City .

2010–2014 : return key to the backing

Leeds spent much of the 2010–11 season in the playoff places, but finally finished in seventh position, precisely missing out on the playoffs. In May 2011, it was announced that Leeds president 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 miss of investment in the play side, to which Bates responded by calling the protesters “ morons ”. [ 66 ] Despite securing forwarding 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 golf club ‘s modern coach on 18 February, with his initial contract lasting until the end of the 2012–13 season. [ 68 ] On 21 November 2012, Middle East-based secret equity group GFH Capital finalised a deal for a prolong coup d’etat of Leeds, gaining a 100 % shareholding in the golf club. It was besides announced Ken Bates would remain as president 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 human body in the 2012–13 season was generally average, with the club never making any real challenge for the play-off places. Warnock resigned with six games remaining, and Leeds barely five points above the delegating zone. [ 71 ] Brian McDermott replaced Warnock, and the baseball club won three of their concluding five games of the season, adequate to avoid relegation. That summer, Bates stepped down as chair, and ultimately left the cabaret all in all a few weeks subsequently following a quarrel over expenses. On 7 January 2014, Leeds United ‘s managing director David Haigh was involved in Sport Capital, a consortium involving the managing conductor 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 % bet on in the business. [ 72 ] On 30 January, Sport Capital ‘s coup d’etat collapsed ascribable to a lack of “ fiscal back ”. Haigh released a affirmation conceding that it was unable to complete a deal despite two months ago agreeing to purchase a 75 % stake in the cabaret from the owners Gulf Finance House. Haigh said he and Sport Capital had “ injected hearty sums into the club to ensure its viability ” but earlier in the workweek companion consortium penis 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 command from Massimo Cellino, the president of the united states 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 entail, 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 did n’t feel able to deliver the fiscal back we had hoped was agreed to take the club forward. [ 74 ]

On 31 January 2014, under controversial circumstances, it was reported that director Brian McDermott had been removed from his place as the club ‘s coach 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 erstwhile coach. [ 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 even approved his purchase, indeed neither he nor his lawyer could sack the coach. McDermott, consequently, remained in his military post. [ 77 ] After weeks of guess regarding the buy 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 kin acquire a 75 % ownership of the club, subjugate to Football League Approval. [ 79 ] At its touch on 23 March 2014, the circuit board of the Football League decided unanimously that Cellino ‘s conviction by an italian motor hotel 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 coup d’etat, Leeds suffered an appalling moment half of the season, dropping from the play-off places to the fringes of the relegation conflict. In the end, the unaccented performances of the teams below Leeds meant that they were never in any actual danger of going down, and a late run of wins put survival beyond doubt well before the end of the temper. 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 attract with autonomous QC Tim Kerr to take over the club. [ 81 ] The coup d’etat 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 amazingly appointed head coach, with Junior Lewis hired as his adjunct. After alone 70 days, the pair were fired by Cellino. [ 83 ] [ 84 ] Darko Milanič was given the pass coach position in September 2014 becoming the club ‘s beginning coach from outside the british isles and the first Slovene coach in English football, but left the clubhouse the following calendar month. [ 85 ] [ 86 ] On 1 November 2014, Neil Redfearn was confirmed as the new heading coach. [ 87 ] On 1 December 2014, Cellino was disqualified by the Football League after it obtained documents from an italian woo, where he was found guilty of tax evasion. [ 88 ] He was disqualified from running the clubhouse until 10 April 2015, and on 24 February 2015, Cellino announced he would not be returning to the club after his prohibition ended. [ 89 ] Redfearn was replaced by former Man City Player 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 rationale with Leeds Fans Utd to sell a majority impale in the club. [ 90 ] [ 91 ] When asked to legally commit to an exclusivity period to allow due diligence to begin, he reneged. [ 92 ] On 2 June 2016 Garry Monk was appointed as the fresh capitulum 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 hapless footrace of human body 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 rejoinder

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 wax ownership of the clubhouse. [ 95 ] Garry Monk resigned as head coach two days after the coup d’etat, after one season at the club in which he guided them to seventh target. [ 96 ] In June 2017, early Spain international Thomas Christiansen was announced as the fresh capitulum coach of Leeds, joining from APOEL. [ 97 ] This was followed by Radrizzani introducing Leeds United Ladies back to Leeds United possession. [ 98 ] besides in June, Radrizzani completed the buy of Elland Road from Jacob Adler ‘s ship’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 regretful run of games ( not a unmarried succeed 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 surrogate, just four days after signing a new abridge at Barnsley. On 24 May 2018, Leeds announced that 49ers Enterprises had bought shares in the clubhouse 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 cabaret for barely four months. [ 101 ] Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa was named the club ‘s raw coach on 15 June, signing a biennial sign with an option of a third year. In doing so he became the highest-paid director in Leeds United ‘s history. [ 102 ] [ 103 ] Bielsa ‘s first gear season in charge saw Leeds make an impressive begin and Leeds remained in the top 2 with Norwich City for the majority of the season, on course for automatic rifle promotion to the Premier League. however, a hapless end to the season saw the team lose out on automatic rifle promotion to Sheffield United. [ 104 ] They entered the playoffs against Derby County, but despite winning 1–0 in the first base 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 peak 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, finally going on to finish 10 points clear of West Brom in 2nd. [ 106 ]

Leeds ‘ first season back in the Premier League produced a 9th-placed finish after gaining 59 points – the most by a newly promoted slope since Ipswich Town in 2001. [ 108 ]

Colours and badge

In Leeds ‘ first base 15 years, the club kit was modelled on Huddersfield Town ‘s blue and white striped shirts, flannel shorts and colored blue socks with blue and white rings on the turnovers, [ 109 ] [ 110 ] because Huddersfield ‘s chair Hilton Crowther was attempting to merge the two clubs. [ 110 ] He finally 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 chicken tops. [ 110 ] The kit was worn for the first time on 22 September 1934. [ 110 ] In 1950, Leeds switched to yellow shirts with blue sleeves and collars, white shorts and blacken, amobarbital sodium and gold hooped socks. In 1955, Leeds changed again to royal blue shirts with gold collars, white shorts, and blue and yellow hoop socks, therefore echoing the original Leeds City comic strip. [ 110 ] In 1961, Don Revie introduced a plain white strip throughout .

badge

Leeds United ‘s first gear badge appeared in 1934. Like Leeds City before them, the club adopted the Coat of arms of Leeds, which remained on the kit in diverse guises until 1961. [ 111 ] For a number of seasons after 1961–62, when the all-white strip replaced the blue sky and aureate, the shirts sported no badge at all. A perch owl badge was added to the strip in 1964. The purpose was a surprise given Revie ‘s superstition about the symbolism of birds. The owl derived from the three owl 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 normally dark blue aristocratic, but was coloured gold for the 1968 Football League Cup Final. [ 111 ] between 1971 and 1973, Leeds used the “ LUFC ” script that runs down the center of the current badge, albeit in a diagonal fashion preferably than the present vertical. The handwriting made a reappearance on the ‘retro-look ‘ Asics kit used during the 1995–96 season. In 1973 came the embodiment of 1970s imagination with the iconic “ smiley ” badge, made up of the letters L and U in house of cards writing. Revie ‘s preference for gimmicks was years ahead of its meter, and done with the explicit intention of gaining toleration from a public outside West Yorkshire. [ 110 ] In 1977, the smiley badge was rotated through 45° and the scandalmongering and blue colours were reversed. The yellow smiley returned the be year, but was now enclosed in a traffic circle surrounded by the words “ LEEDS UNITED AFC ”. In the 1978–79 season, a new badge appeared that was similar to that of the former season, except now the words “ LEEDS UNITED AFC ” enclosed a stylize 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 live of the modern era. The classifiable rose and ball badge used the traditional blue, gold and white colours, and incorporated the White Rose of York, the cabaret ‘s diagnose, and a football ( a truncated icosahedron exchangeable to the Adidas Telstar, but in Leeds coloring material ) in the core department. [ 111 ] In the 1998–99 season, the club logo was replaced with a more “ european ” carapace design. The shield retained the white rose, equally well as the blue, gold and white colours, with “ LUFC ” reading vertically down the center. [ 112 ] In 1999, the badge was slenderly amended in that the football from the 1984 badge was added to the center of the white rose. [ 111 ] On 20 February 2019, Leeds United revealed a predominantly gold coloured badge that would be worn on the players ‘ kit out during the club ‘s centennial 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 besides carried the date “ 1919 ”, the class that the club was founded, arsenic well as the centennial class “ 2019 ” .

[ 113 ]

stadium

Elland Road, 2013 Leeds United have lone always used one stadium as their home ground, Elland Road, where they have played at since their basis in 1919. An all-seater football stadium situated in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, it is the fourteenth largest football stadium in England. Elland Road was previously occupied by their predecessors, Leeds City before their disband. [ 114 ] After their constitution, 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. [ 115 ] however, it was sold by the club in October 2004, with a 25-year sale- leaseback consider being agreed, and a commercial buy-back article besides included for when the club ‘s finances improve sufficiently. initially, the crunch was the dwelling of the Holbeck Rugby Club, which played in the Northern Rugby Union, the precursor of the Rugby Football League. [ 116 ] One of Leeds ‘ first nicknames , ‘The Peacocks’, comes from the original appoint of Elland Road – ‘The Old Peacock reason ‘. It was named by the original owners of the land, Bentley ‘s Brewery, after its public house The Old Peacock, which however faces the site. [ 117 ] The newly formed Leeds City agreed to rent and by and by own Elland Road. After their disbandment, it was sold to Leeds United. The most recent resist at Elland Road is the East, or family, Stand, a cantilever structure completed during the 1992–93 season that can hold 17,000 seat spectators. It is a two-tiered stand that continues around the corners and is the largest separate of the stadium. The Don Revie Stand was opened at the depart of the 1994–95 season, and can hold merely under 7,000 seat spectators. [ specify ] The roof of the West Stand holds a television comment gantry and walk for television receiver 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 besides revealed plans to take out the administrator boxes out of the South Stand to increase the starting capacitance by a far 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 intimidate atmospheres in european football. [ 118 ] A statue of fabled master Billy Bremner was unveiled outside the stadium in 1999 in the area known as ‘Bremner Square ‘. [ 119 ] then a bronze statue for Leeds ‘ most successful director Don Revie was besides unveiled in 2012, celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the baseball club winning the FA Cup. [ 120 ] As separate of the renovation of the Bremner statue in summer 2018, a ‘Bremner Square XI ‘ was announced. [ 121 ] The XI featured ten foster ‘legendary Leeds players ‘ who have engraved stones featuring their key stats and achievements during their careers with Leeds United. [ 122 ] 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 early areas of the baseball club. [ 99 ] In July 2018, Elland Road was voted ‘Best land in the Championship ‘ by football supporters. [ 123 ]

Supporters

In 2003, Peter Reid commented on the documentation 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 antic. ” [ 124 ] Two other former Leeds managers have besides spoken highly of the club ‘s supporters ; Kevin Blackwell said “ fans will follow them everywhere ” and David O’Leary commented “ There is an huge fan infrastructure and they are silent with the clubhouse ”. [ 125 ] Leeds supporters are renowned for singing the signature song “ Marching on Together “ before and during matches. early luminary songs Leeds fans sing during games include “ We Are The Champions, Champions of Europe ” ( more normally known as WACCOE ) in reference to the 1975 european Cup Final which Leeds lost due to doubtful referee 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 attract. celebrated 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 football player Vinnie Jones [ citation needed ], boxer Katie Taylor [ citation needed ], erstwhile England cricket captain Nasser Hussain, Game of Thrones actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, packer Josh Warrington and many more. [ 126 ] Leeds United supporters besides have their own salute. [ 127 ] Leeds are 10th in the all-time average attendance figures for the Football League and Premier League. [ 128 ] They have the third gear most rivalries in the English League. [ 129 ] Sir Alex Ferguson once said that Elland Road has one of the most intimidate atmospheres in european football. [ 118 ] An LGBT fans ‘ group was formed in 2017 and will sit on the club ‘s Supporters ‘ Advisory Group. [ 130 ] There is a well-known bully firm amongst the fans known as the Leeds United Service Crew .

Rivalries

Leeds United ’ south main rivals are widely considered to be Manchester United. [ 131 ] As the largest cities within the historic counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, animosity between the regions date back to the War of the Roses, although more late tensions between the football club date back to the 1960s and the iconic Managers of Don Revie and Matt Busby. [ 132 ] Although Manchester United see Liverpool and Manchester City to be their primary rivals, Leeds normally follow close behind as traditional adversaries. [ 133 ] The competition has been described as one the fiercest in worldly concern football, and the most acute and inexplicable in England. [ 134 ] Sir Alex Ferguson has described Elland Road as ‘ hostile ’ and ‘ frighten ’, and stated that the ferocity of games between the two surpassed the ones with Liverpool. [ 135 ] On the pitch, the clubs have competed for league titles and cups in the 1960s, 1970s, 1990s and early 2000s ; while players such as Johnny Giles, Gordon Strachan and Eric Cantona have been highly successful after moving between the clubs. [ 136 ] Leeds ’ delegating to the Football League in 2004 caused a retentive interval in games between the two, although promotion in 2020 restored their clear fledge status. Leeds secondary rivals are generally regarded to be Chelsea, [ 131 ] which largely stems from the 1970 FA Cup Final. [ 137 ] The clubs competed at the top goal of the Premier League in the late 1990s and early 2000s and games were often crabbed. [ 138 ] [ 139 ] While the competition has subsided with Leeds ’ relegation 2004, controversial figures such as Ken Bates and Dennis Wise — both of whom had long associations with Chelsea — presided over the club ’ s relegation to the third base class in 2007 and subsequent government, prolonging the hostility. [ 140 ] [ 141 ] Leeds besides hold extreme point bitter towards the Turkish cabaret Galatasaray following the deaths of the two supporters the night before a UEFA Cup semi-final in Istanbul in April 2000. [ 142 ] During the game, supporters of Galatasaray mocked the deaths, while their team refused to wear black armbands. [ 143 ] The then Leeds Chairman Peter Ridsdale accused the club of ‘lacking coarse decency ’. [ 144 ] During their time outside of the Premier League between 2004 and 2020, Leeds had a number of ephemeral rivalries with divisional competitors such as Cardiff City, Derby County and Millwall, ampere well as Yorkshire neighbours Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town. [ 145 ] [ 146 ] [ 147 ]

music

The single ‘Leeds United ‘ was released in April 1972 to coincide with the team reaching the 1972 FA Cup Final, composed by Les Reed and Barry Mason with the team providing the vocals. The record stayed in the UK Singles Chart for about three months, peaking at issue 10. [ 148 ] The B-side ‘Leeds ! Leeds ! Leeds ! ‘ ( normally known as Marching on Together ) has since become the club ‘s anthem and is regularly sung by supporters. [ 149 ]

Players

First-team police squad

As of 18 December 2021[150]

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

Out on loanword

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

Reserves and academy

luminary players

Non-playing staff

First-team staff

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

Medical & Performance team

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

Scouting team

Updated to match play 15 May 2018
Source : yorkshire Evening Post

Under 23s and Academy staff

Owners and directors

generator : [ 162 ]
Updated to match play 1 May 2018
Source : Leeds United Official Website

League history

managerial history

Caretaker managers are not included in this list, with the exception of Eddie Gray due to the length of his tenure. For the full list, see: List of Leeds United F.C. managers.

Honours

source : [ 168 ]

domestic

league

cup

european

In popular culture

See besides

References