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m Add dates and cite to the O'Leary-Risdale era
m rv, reverting to remove addition of info to history, please add it to Leeds United A.F.C. History if you wish to, this section is meant as a brief summary, oh and valencia didn't win CL Bayern did
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In October 1988, with the team standing at 21st position in [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]], Bremner was fired to make way for [[Howard Wilkinson]]. The following season Leeds finally won promotion back to the [[Football League First Division|first division]] after an absence of eight years. Wilkinson continued to rebuild, and the club finished 4th on its first season back in the First Division. In 1992 Leeds won the final old [[Football League First Division|First Division]] championship ([[1991-92 in English football|1991-92]]), and beat Liverpool to win the [[FA Community Shield|Charity Shield]] at the start of the season. The [[1992-93 in English football|1992-93]] season was a poor one however, with Leeds exiting the [[UEFA Champions League 1992-93|Champions League]] in the early stages, and eventually finishing 17th in the League, narrowly avoiding relegation. Wilkinson's position with the board had become more precarious with the sale of the club in 1992 to a new consortium, and wasn't helped by a poor display in the [[Football League Cup Final 1996|1996 League Cup final]] which Leeds lost to Aston Villa. Wilkinson's team could only finish 13th in [[1995-96 in English football|1995-96]], and after a heavy home defeat to Manchester United early in the [[1996-97 in English football|1996-97]] season, Wilkinson had his contract terminated.
In October 1988, with the team standing at 21st position in [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]], Bremner was fired to make way for [[Howard Wilkinson]]. The following season Leeds finally won promotion back to the [[Football League First Division|first division]] after an absence of eight years. Wilkinson continued to rebuild, and the club finished 4th on its first season back in the First Division. In 1992 Leeds won the final old [[Football League First Division|First Division]] championship ([[1991-92 in English football|1991-92]]), and beat Liverpool to win the [[FA Community Shield|Charity Shield]] at the start of the season. The [[1992-93 in English football|1992-93]] season was a poor one however, with Leeds exiting the [[UEFA Champions League 1992-93|Champions League]] in the early stages, and eventually finishing 17th in the League, narrowly avoiding relegation. Wilkinson's position with the board had become more precarious with the sale of the club in 1992 to a new consortium, and wasn't helped by a poor display in the [[Football League Cup Final 1996|1996 League Cup final]] which Leeds lost to Aston Villa. Wilkinson's team could only finish 13th in [[1995-96 in English football|1995-96]], and after a heavy home defeat to Manchester United early in the [[1996-97 in English football|1996-97]] season, Wilkinson had his contract terminated.


Leeds controversially<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/1996-2006.php |title=1996-97 |accessdate=2006-11-26 |work=Tony Hill |publisher=ozwhitelufc.net.au}}</ref> appointed [[George Graham (footballer)|George Graham]] as Wilkinson's replacement. Graham stabilised the team with some astute signings and the introduction of promising youngsters, and by the end of season Leeds had qualified for the [[UEFA Cup]]. However, the [[1998-99 in English football|1998-99 season]] saw Graham move to become manager of [[Tottenham Hotspur]], and Leeds opted to appoint Graham's assistant [[David O'Leary]] as his replacement. Under O'Leary, Leeds finished the [[1998-99 in English football|1998-99 season]] in 4th place, qualifying for the UEFA Cup again.
Leeds controversially<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/1996-2006.php |title=1996-97 |accessdate=2006-11-26 |work=Tony Hill |publisher=ozwhitelufc.net.au}}</ref> appointed [[George Graham (footballer)|George Graham]]. At the start of the season, Graham brought in some bargain buys and introduced Australian youngster [[Harry Kewell]] from the youth team. At the end of the season Leeds booked its place in the [[UEFA Cup]] for the next season. The [[1998-99 in English football|1998-99 season]] saw Graham move to become manager of the north [[London]] club [[Tottenham Hotspur]]. Leeds opted for [[David O'Leary]], George Graham's assistant manager. Under O'Leary the glory days seemed likely to return. On the pitch he let his team do the talking. He introduced promising youngsters like [[Jonathan Woodgate]], and [[Alan Smith]] The fans and pundits saw a new vigorous and dynamic Leeds United side. Leeds youngsters played fast-paced, attacking football under the coaching of [[Eddie Gray]]. They secured 3rd place in the league that season sending the club into the [[UEFA Champions League]]. However, Leeds image was tarnished when players [[Jonathan Woodgate]] and [[Lee Bowyer]] were involved in an incident in [[Leeds City Centre]] outside the Majestyk nightclub, which left an Asian student in hospital with severe injuries. It took nearly two years to resolve as the start-stop court case came to a close. Bowyer was cleared and Woodgate convicted of affray and sentenced to community service.


Leeds reached their first [[UEFA Cup 1999-00|European semi-final]] in 25 years and were paired against Turkish champions [[Galatasaray]], notorious for their fanatical support. Another dark moment in Leeds’ history was around the corner when two Leeds United fans, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, were brutally stabbed to death before the game in [[Istanbul]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Fans killed in Turkey violence | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/703283.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=[[BBC]] |accessdate=2006-09-17 |date= [[6 April]] [[2000]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Turk 'admits' stabbing Leeds fan | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/704680.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-09-17 |date= [[7 April]] [[2000]]}}</ref>. Leeds lost 2-0. The return leg in [[Leeds]] had the most charged, emotional yet poisonous atmosphere. The game saw Harry Kewell sent off and a 2-2 score was not enough for Leeds, as they went out of the competition. A minute's silence<ref>{{cite web | title=Silence for killed Leeds fans | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/706936.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-09-17 |date= [[9 April]] [[2000]]}}</ref> is held every year at the match closest to the anniversary of the incident to remember Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight.
O'Leary continued to introduce quality youngsters, and encouraged a fast-paced, attacking style of football under the astute coaching of [[Eddie Gray]]. Leeds ended the [[1999-00 in English football|1999-00 season]] in 3rd place, sending the club into the [[UEFA Champions League]]. However, Leeds image was tarnished when players [[Jonathan Woodgate]] and [[Lee Bowyer]] were involved in an incident which left an Asian student in hospital with severe injuries. This incident took nearly two years to resolve before the start-stop court case came to a close; Bowyer was cleared, and Woodgate convicted of affray and sentenced to community service.

In the UEFA Cup, Leeds reached their first [[UEFA Cup 1999-00|European semi-final]] in 25 years, and were paired against Turkish champions [[Galatasaray]], who were notorious for their fanatical support. The first leg of the semi-final was overshadowed by the deaths of two Leeds United fans, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, who were brutally stabbed to death before the game in [[Istanbul]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Fans killed in Turkey violence | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/703283.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=[[BBC]] |accessdate=2006-09-17 |date= [[6 April]] [[2000]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Turk 'admits' stabbing Leeds fan | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/704680.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-09-17 |date= [[7 April]] [[2000]]}}</ref>. Leeds lost the game, and were only able to draw in the return leg at Elland Road. A minute's silence<ref>{{cite web | title=Silence for killed Leeds fans | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/706936.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2006-09-17 |date= [[9 April]] [[2000]]}}</ref> is held every year at the match closest to the anniversary of the incident to remember Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight.


[[Image:Ellandrd.jpg|thumb|float|250px|Leeds United's home ground, [[Elland Road]]]]
[[Image:Ellandrd.jpg|thumb|float|250px|Leeds United's home ground, [[Elland Road]]]]


The [[2000-01 in English football|2000-01 season]] saw Leeds enjoying a tremendous run in the [[UEFA Champions League]], losing the semi-final to eventual winners [[Valencia, CF|Valencia]]. However, Leeds could only finish 4th in the Premiership, thus failing to qualify for the Champions League for the following season. Under the leadership of Peter Ridsdale, the club had taken out huge loans secured against future television rights and gate receipts<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2003/10/29/story992865683.asp |title=McKenzie sees rosy future for troubled Leeds |accessdate=2006-11-26 | date=[[29 October]] [[2003]] | work=Ian Parkes |publisher=Irish Examiner}}</ref>. As Leeds had not qualified for the UEFA Champions League, the income from television rights and gates receipts was much lower than anticipated, and Leeds slipped further and further into debt. The financial situation meant that O'Leary needed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League in [[2001-02 in English football|2001-02 season]], but Leeds could only finish 5th.
Following their appearance in the [[UEFA Champions League]] [[UEFA Champions League 2000-01|semi-final]] against [[Valencia, CF|Valencia]] Leeds' fortunes started to change. Although the general public were unaware, the club under the leadership of Peter Ridsdale had taken out loans worth extremely large sums of money against future gates receipts<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2003/10/29/story992865683.asp |title=McKenzie sees rosy future for troubled Leeds |accessdate=2006-11-26 | date=[[29 October]] [[2003]] | work=Ian Parkes |publisher=Irish Examiner}}</ref>, and along with the team not performing as the loans required, Leeds slipped further and further into debt. The first signs to the fans was the sale of [[Rio Ferdinand]] to Leeds' hated rivals {{fc|Manchester United}} for a sum of approximately £30m. David O'Leary was then sacked and replaced by former England manager [[Terry Venables]]. Under Venables, the team didn't perform that well and many of Leeds' stars were sold including [[Jonathan Woodgate]] whom Ridsdale had promised Venables would not be sold. Tensions mounted between the pair, eventually resulting in the sacking of Venables, who was replaced by [[Peter Reid]]. Reid finally saved Leeds with a 3-2 win away to Arsenal in the penultimate game of the season During this time the now hated Peter Ridsdale resigned from the Leeds board and was replaced by Professor [[John McKenzie]]. Unfortunately more star players left for financially questionable fees. An unsuccessful start to the [[2003-04 in English football|2003-04 season]] saw [[Peter Reid]] dismissed, and fans' hero and former manager, [[Eddie Gray]], took over as caretaker manager until the end of the season.

The first indication that the club was in financial trouble was the sale of [[Rio Ferdinand]] to rivals {{fc|Manchester United}} for nearly £30m. O'Leary and Ridsdale publically fell out, resulting in the sacking of O'Leary <ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/2069751.stm |title=O'Leary sacked by Leeds |accessdate=2006-12-17 | date=[[27 June]] [[2002]] | publisher=BBC}}</ref> and the appointment of former England manager [[Terry Venables]]. Leeds performed poorly in the [[2002-03 in English football|2001-02 season]], and many of the players were sold to service the debt, including [[Jonathan Woodgate]] whom Ridsdale had promised Venables would not be sold. Tensions mounted between Ridsdale and Venables, eventually resulting in the sacking of Venables, who was replaced by [[Peter Reid]]. By this time Leeds were perilously close to relegation, but Reid finally saved Leeds from the drop in the penultimate game of the season. During this time the now reviled Ridsdale resigned from the Leeds board and was replaced by Professor [[John McKenzie]]. Unfortunately more players left for financially questionable fees, and an unsuccessful start to the [[2003-04 in English football|2003-04 season]] saw [[Peter Reid]] dismissed, and fans' hero and former manager, [[Eddie Gray]], took over as caretaker manager until the end of the season.


Gray continued the trend of recent years in rebuilding with young players with finances severely limiting anything the club could do in the transfer maket. Leeds were now in £121m of debt<ref name=BBC1>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/5332286.stm |title=Leeds may be debt-free in a year |accessdate=2006-09-11 |date=[[10 September]] [[2006]] |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref>. This was also a serious concern for the players. The team continued to struggle on the field and were eventually relegated after 14 years in the top flight. Following confirmation of the club's relegation, Gray's reign as caretaker manager was terminated. [[Kevin Blackwell]] was appointed manager. Most of Leeds' remaining stars were sold or released on free transfers to simply ease the pressure on finances with even teenage starlet [[James Milner]] leaving the club. Leeds were eventually forced to sell both their training ground, for £4.2m<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/3948841.stm |title=Leeds hopeful over new investors |accessdate=2006-10-31 |date=[[24 October]] [[2006]] |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref>, and their [[Elland Road]] stadium<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/3995041.stm |title=Leeds sell ground after bid fails |accessdate=2006-10-31 |date=[[12 November]] [[2006]] |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref> in the autumn of 2004.
Gray continued the trend of recent years in rebuilding with young players with finances severely limiting anything the club could do in the transfer maket. Leeds were now in £121m of debt<ref name=BBC1>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/5332286.stm |title=Leeds may be debt-free in a year |accessdate=2006-09-11 |date=[[10 September]] [[2006]] |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref>. This was also a serious concern for the players. The team continued to struggle on the field and were eventually relegated after 14 years in the top flight. Following confirmation of the club's relegation, Gray's reign as caretaker manager was terminated. [[Kevin Blackwell]] was appointed manager. Most of Leeds' remaining stars were sold or released on free transfers to simply ease the pressure on finances with even teenage starlet [[James Milner]] leaving the club. Leeds were eventually forced to sell both their training ground, for £4.2m<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/3948841.stm |title=Leeds hopeful over new investors |accessdate=2006-10-31 |date=[[24 October]] [[2006]] |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref>, and their [[Elland Road]] stadium<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/3995041.stm |title=Leeds sell ground after bid fails |accessdate=2006-10-31 |date=[[12 November]] [[2006]] |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref> in the autumn of 2004.
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==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*One of Leeds' first nicknames, "The Peacocks", comes from the original name of the [[Elland Road]] ground "The Old Peacock ground". It was named by the original owners of the ground, Bentley's Brewery, after the pub that faced the land, which the brewery also owned, "The Old Peacock"<ref name=WAFLL1> </ref>.
*One of Leeds' first nicknames, "The Peacocks", comes from the original name of the [[Elland Road]] ground "The Old Peacock ground". It was named by the original owners of the ground, Bentley's Brewery, after the pub that faced the land, which the brewery also owned, "The Old Peacock"<ref name=WAFLL1> </ref>.
*Leeds were the first team to do a pre-match warm up, starting under [[Don Revie]]<ref name=WTER>"Welcome To Elland Road", Les Rowley & James Brown (1999), IFG Publishing, ISBN 0-9536338-0-2</ref>.
*Leeds were the first team to do a pre-match warm up, starting under [[Don Revie]]<ref name=WTER>"Welcome To Elland Road", Les Rowley & James Brown (1999), IFG Publishing, ISBN 0953633802</ref>.
*Leeds were the first English team to win a [[The Double|double]] involving european and domestic trophies. It was in 1968 when Leeds won the [[Football League Cup Final 1968|Football League Cup]] and [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1967-68|Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]]<ref name=Kry1>{{cite web |url=http://www.krysstal.com/league1968.html |title=Football : Season Details : 1968 |accessdate=2006-10-17 |date= |work=Krysstal |publisher=krysstal.com}}</ref>.
*Leeds were the first English team to win a [[The Double|double]] involving european and domestic trophies. It was in 1968 when Leeds won the [[Football League Cup Final 1968|Football League Cup]] and [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1967-68|Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]]<ref name=Kry1>{{cite web |url=http://www.krysstal.com/league1968.html |title=Football : Season Details : 1968 |accessdate=2006-10-17 |date= |work=Krysstal |publisher=krysstal.com}}</ref>.
*Leeds were the first English winners of the [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]], the tournament replaced by the [[UEFA Cup]]<ref name=Kry1> </ref>.
*Leeds were the first English winners of the [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]], the tournament replaced by the [[UEFA Cup]]<ref name=Kry1> </ref>.
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*{{BBC Football Info|BBClinkname=l/leeds_united}}
*{{BBC Football Info|BBClinkname=l/leeds_united}}
*[http://www.leedsunited.com/ Official Website]
*[http://www.leedsunited.com/ Official Website]



{{Leeds_United_A.F.C.}}
{{Leeds_United_A.F.C.}}
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[[Category:Football (soccer) clubs established in 1919]]
[[Category:Football (soccer) clubs established in 1919]]
[[Category:Yorkshire football clubs]]
[[Category:Yorkshire football clubs]]

[[ca:Leeds United Football Club]]
[[ca:Leeds United Football Club]]
[[de:Leeds United]]
[[de:Leeds United]]

Revision as of 15:07, 17 December 2006

Leeds United
Leeds United's Badge
Full nameLeeds United Association Football Club
Nickname(s)The Whites, United, The Peacocks
Founded1919
GroundElland Road
Leeds
Capacity40,296
ChairmanEngland Ken Bates
ManagerEngland Dennis Wise
LeagueThe Championship
2005-06Championship, 5th

Leeds United Association Football Club are the only professional association football club in the city of Leeds. The club was established in 1919, following the demise of Leeds City F.C.

The club's nicknames are "Leeds", "United" or "The Whites". Some older fans still use the nickname "The Peacocks"[1], but this nickname is virtually obsolete. They currently play in the Football League Championship and play their home games at the Elland Road stadium. The song of Leeds United is Marching On Together.

Leeds United have always had a loyal and passionate fanbase, with previous manager Kevin Blackwell famously saying that the club had over 250,000 ticket applications for the 2005/06 Championship Play Off Final, but the club struggles to fill Elland Road for all home matches, with attendances averaging around 20,000 in the 2005/06 season, down from 30,000 the previous season. When full, Elland Road is said to have one of the most intimidating atmospheres in European Football. Leeds are 10th in the all time average attendance figures for the Football League & Premier League[2].

Although the club name bears the "AFC" suffix, the current badge displays "LUFC", however previous badges have included the official suffix[3].

Leeds rose to prominence under the management of Don Revie during the 1960s and 1970s, when they won a host of major trophies and were one of the most feared sides in Europe. It was Revie who changed Leeds home kit to all white in honour of Real Madrid, in the hope that if the team looked like the Spanish giants, they would play like them as well.

Revie's departure for the England job spelled the end of an era for Leeds and they were relegated to the Second Division in 1982, not regaining their top flight status until 1990, by which time they were being managed by Howard Wilkinson.

Leeds were league champions in 1992, but this title triumph is their most recent major trophy. In 2004, a financial crisis saw Leeds slip out of the Premiership and they are currently in their third successive season outside the top flight after being beaten 3-0 by Watford in the play-off final of the 2005-06 season.

History

Leeds United's predecessor club, Leeds City F.C., was formed in 1904 by the committee and supporters. It was forcibly disbanded by The Football League in 1919 in response to allegations of financial irregularities regarding illegal payments to players during the First World War.

Shortly after the collapse of Leeds City, a new club, Leeds United, was formed and, shortly afterwards, began playing in the Midland League, taking the place vacated by Leeds City's reserve team.

, who now occupied Elland Road, offered to make way for the new team under the management of former player Dick Ray. In 1920, Leeds were acquired by

's then chairman, Hilton Crowther. Crowther also brought in a new manager, Arthur Fairclough, from Barnsley.

Leeds' first fixture after their election was ironically against Port Vale, the club who had taken up Leeds City's fixtures the previous season after their expulsion. Leeds lost the match 2-0, however Leeds first victory was the corresponding fixture at Elland Road only seven days later finishing Leeds United 3-1 Port Vale. Over the following few years, Leeds consolidated their position in the Second Division and in 1924 won the Second Division title with 54 points. However, they failed to establish themselves in the first division and were relegated in 1927. In the years up until the start of World War II Leeds were twice relegated and instantly re-promoted the following season.

In the first official season after the war, Leeds were relegated with the worst league record in their history. They remained in the Second Division for a further nine seasons until 1955-56, when Leeds once again won promotion to the First Division. Welsh legend John Charles was key to the side, and in the first season after promotion he scored 39 goals, which still remains a club record. However, disaster struck when the west stand at Elland Road was destroyed by fire at the end of the 1956-57 season. This forced the club to sell Charles to Juventus for £65,000 to help pay the re-construction costs. The loss of Charles was a huge blow and the club once again went into decline, eventually being relegated to the Second Division three seasons later in 1960.

File:Bremner And Revie.jpg
Revie and Captain Billy Bremner

In March 1961 the club's directors appointed former England centre forward, and current player Don Revie as manager. It was under Revie that Leeds enjoyed their most successful period, and during which they became probably the leading English football club. Revie's stewardship began in adverse circumstances; the club was in some financial difficulty[4] and in the 1961-62 season only a win in the final game of the season saved the club from relegation to Division 3. Under Revie Leeds won promotion to Division 1 in the 1963-64 season; two league championships, 1968-69 (losing only two games) and 1973-74, when the team went 34 games undefeated; the League Cup in 1968; the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1968 and 1971; the FA Cup in 1972; and FA Charity Shield in 1969. Revie's last season at Elland Road was in 1974 and he left Leeds to take up the role of managing the English national team. Whilst recognised as one of the finest post-war British teams, Leeds also developed a reputation for underachievement, finishing as runners-up in several competitions.

Brian Clough was appointed as Revie's successor. This was a surprise appointment, as Clough had been an outspoken critic of Revie and the teams tactics. Players and supporters openly disliked Clough, and after only 44 days he was dismissed and replaced by former England captain Jimmy Armfield. Armfield took Revie's aging team to the final of the European Cup, where they were defeated in controversial circumstances by Bayern Munich. Armfield (with noted coach Don Howe) rebuilt Revie's team, and though it no longer dominated English football, it remained in the top ten for subsequent seasons. However, the board was impatient for success and dismissed Armfield, replacing him with another managerial legend, Jock Stein. Unfortunately, Stein remained in the role for only a short period of time, leaving after 44 days to take up an invitation to manage the Scottish national team. The board turned to Jimmy Adamson, a long-time manager at Burnley; however, he was unable to stop the decline. In 1980 Adamson was in turn fired, and replaced by former Leeds and England star Allan Clarke. Clarke, despite spending freely on players, was unable to stem the tide and the club was relegated at the end of the 1981-82 season. Clarke was in his turn replaced by former team-mate Eddie Gray.

Gray's concentration on youth development turned round Leeds' precarious financial situation, without winning them promotion from the second division. Most Leeds supporters would give Gray the benefit of the doubt during this period as he had no money to spend on team building[5], and those players he developed were often sold off as well. However the board again became impatient and sacked him in 1985, replacing him with another former Revie star, former Leeds and Scotland captain Billy Bremner. Bremner carried on where Gray had left off, but found it just as difficult to achieve promotion, though he did bring the club close to success; under Bremner, Leeds were defeated in the 1987 play-off final after extra time and, in the same year, were beaten in the FA Cup semi-final.

The Leeds United Championship and Charity Shield winning side of 1991-92

In October 1988, with the team standing at 21st position in Division 2, Bremner was fired to make way for Howard Wilkinson. The following season Leeds finally won promotion back to the first division after an absence of eight years. Wilkinson continued to rebuild, and the club finished 4th on its first season back in the First Division. In 1992 Leeds won the final old First Division championship (1991-92), and beat Liverpool to win the Charity Shield at the start of the season. The 1992-93 season was a poor one however, with Leeds exiting the Champions League in the early stages, and eventually finishing 17th in the League, narrowly avoiding relegation. Wilkinson's position with the board had become more precarious with the sale of the club in 1992 to a new consortium, and wasn't helped by a poor display in the 1996 League Cup final which Leeds lost to Aston Villa. Wilkinson's team could only finish 13th in 1995-96, and after a heavy home defeat to Manchester United early in the 1996-97 season, Wilkinson had his contract terminated.

Leeds controversially[6] appointed George Graham. At the start of the season, Graham brought in some bargain buys and introduced Australian youngster Harry Kewell from the youth team. At the end of the season Leeds booked its place in the UEFA Cup for the next season. The 1998-99 season saw Graham move to become manager of the north London club Tottenham Hotspur. Leeds opted for David O'Leary, George Graham's assistant manager. Under O'Leary the glory days seemed likely to return. On the pitch he let his team do the talking. He introduced promising youngsters like Jonathan Woodgate, and Alan Smith The fans and pundits saw a new vigorous and dynamic Leeds United side. Leeds youngsters played fast-paced, attacking football under the coaching of Eddie Gray. They secured 3rd place in the league that season sending the club into the UEFA Champions League. However, Leeds image was tarnished when players Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer were involved in an incident in Leeds City Centre outside the Majestyk nightclub, which left an Asian student in hospital with severe injuries. It took nearly two years to resolve as the start-stop court case came to a close. Bowyer was cleared and Woodgate convicted of affray and sentenced to community service.

Leeds reached their first European semi-final in 25 years and were paired against Turkish champions Galatasaray, notorious for their fanatical support. Another dark moment in Leeds’ history was around the corner when two Leeds United fans, Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight, were brutally stabbed to death before the game in Istanbul[7][8]. Leeds lost 2-0. The return leg in Leeds had the most charged, emotional yet poisonous atmosphere. The game saw Harry Kewell sent off and a 2-2 score was not enough for Leeds, as they went out of the competition. A minute's silence[9] is held every year at the match closest to the anniversary of the incident to remember Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight.

Leeds United's home ground, Elland Road

Following their appearance in the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Valencia Leeds' fortunes started to change. Although the general public were unaware, the club under the leadership of Peter Ridsdale had taken out loans worth extremely large sums of money against future gates receipts[10], and along with the team not performing as the loans required, Leeds slipped further and further into debt. The first signs to the fans was the sale of Rio Ferdinand to Leeds' hated rivals Manchester United for a sum of approximately £30m. David O'Leary was then sacked and replaced by former England manager Terry Venables. Under Venables, the team didn't perform that well and many of Leeds' stars were sold including Jonathan Woodgate whom Ridsdale had promised Venables would not be sold. Tensions mounted between the pair, eventually resulting in the sacking of Venables, who was replaced by Peter Reid. Reid finally saved Leeds with a 3-2 win away to Arsenal in the penultimate game of the season During this time the now hated Peter Ridsdale resigned from the Leeds board and was replaced by Professor John McKenzie. Unfortunately more star players left for financially questionable fees. An unsuccessful start to the 2003-04 season saw Peter Reid dismissed, and fans' hero and former manager, Eddie Gray, took over as caretaker manager until the end of the season.

Gray continued the trend of recent years in rebuilding with young players with finances severely limiting anything the club could do in the transfer maket. Leeds were now in £121m of debt[11]. This was also a serious concern for the players. The team continued to struggle on the field and were eventually relegated after 14 years in the top flight. Following confirmation of the club's relegation, Gray's reign as caretaker manager was terminated. Kevin Blackwell was appointed manager. Most of Leeds' remaining stars were sold or released on free transfers to simply ease the pressure on finances with even teenage starlet James Milner leaving the club. Leeds were eventually forced to sell both their training ground, for £4.2m[12], and their Elland Road stadium[13] in the autumn of 2004.

The club finally managed a financial turn around on 21 January 2005, when Leeds Chairman Gerald Krasner announced the sale of a 50% stake to Ken Bates for £10m, with Bates becoming the club's new Chairman[14]. Leeds stabilised by signing players on free-transfers and low wages, and ended the 2004-05 season midtable. With six new players brought in over the summer, the club's goal during the 2005-06 season was promotion. At the beginning of March, Kevin Blackwell signed an extension to his contract, which was to keep him at Leeds United for another three years. Leeds finished the season inside the top 6 and made the playoff final, which they lost 3-0 to Watford. On 10 September 2006, Kevin Blackwell announced that within a year the club would be debt free[11]. However, the 2006-07 season started badly and on 20 September 2006 Kevin Blackwell's contract as manager of Leeds United was terminated. Dennis Wise was eventually installed after a month without a permanent manager. On 20 November 2006 Kevin Blackwell stated he was suing the club for wrongful dismissal[15].

Rivalries

According to a survey taken in 2004 Leeds are the club with the third most rivalries in the English League[16]. Without a doubt the rivalry that Leeds fans consider their greatest is that with Manchester United. This has arisen from a traditional Yorkshire-Lancashire rivalry that has been in place for centuries: Leeds and Manchester are the largest cities in the respective traditional counties. The rivalry also has roots in battles which took place between the two clubs on the pitch in the 1960s and 1970s. Leeds fans second biggest rivals are Chelsea[16]. This originates from more recent times than the one with Manchester United. Several on field fierce battles took place in the 1970s between the two teams, particularly the F.A. Cup Final between the two sides in 1970. More fierce battles took place after the final and the rivalry exists to this day. Local rivalries also exist with Huddersfield Town, Bradford City, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley all being traditional West Riding of Yorkshire rivalries. Fans of Hull City see Leeds as their biggest rival, yet this it is not reciprocated by the Leeds fans[16] being a completely one way rivalry. The two clubs have not been in the same divisions as one another long enough to propagate the rivalry, although they have often met in the past in pre-season friendlies.

Trivia

  • One of Leeds' first nicknames, "The Peacocks", comes from the original name of the Elland Road ground "The Old Peacock ground". It was named by the original owners of the ground, Bentley's Brewery, after the pub that faced the land, which the brewery also owned, "The Old Peacock"[1].
  • Leeds were the first team to do a pre-match warm up, starting under Don Revie[17].
  • Leeds were the first English team to win a double involving european and domestic trophies. It was in 1968 when Leeds won the Football League Cup and Inter-Cities Fairs Cup[18].
  • Leeds were the first English winners of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the tournament replaced by the UEFA Cup[18].
  • Leeds were one of the two teams in the first season English teams won two European Competitions. This was in 1968 with the other being Manchester United winning the European Cup[18].
  • Leeds were the second English team to appear in two consecutive European Finals, these being 1967 and 1968 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Finals[18]. The first was Birmingham City in the same competition in 1960 and 1961 of which Birmingham lost both.
  • Leeds hold the record for the second longest unbeaten run in English Football. This was set between October 1968 and August 1969 at 34 games, and was only broken by Arsenal 35 years later going 49 matches between May 2003 and October 2004. Ironically Leeds were the last team to beat Arsenal before they embarked on the record breaking run.
  • The Leeds United vs. Celtic European Cup semi-final at Hampden Park in 1970 holds the record for the highest attendance for a UEFA competition match, the attendance being 136,505.
  • The 1970 Leeds team almost obtained The Treble but instead got the unenviable title of the "nearly men" when they finished second in the League, losing out to Everton, were beaten finalists in the FA Cup, losing to Chelsea, and lost in the semi-final of the European Cup to Celtic
  • The two referees from Leeds' last two European finals never refereed European matches again due to the standard they showed in the respective finals. The referee for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1972-73 final was fined and sent to jail for fixing the match after a trial in Greece[19], and the referee from the European Cup 1974-75 final never worked again in Europe due to some questionable decisions made in the final[17].
  • Leeds have had two managers in the job for only 44 days, Brian Clough and Jock Stein[20].
  • Leeds were the last winners of the old Football League First Division when it was the top division in English football before the creation of the FA Premier League
  • Leeds were the last team to win the English Championship with an English manager in charge (Howard Wilkinson)
  • Leeds were the first English team to appear in the Champions League after it's re-structuring from the European Cup.
  • Leeds were at the top of the FA Premier League at the turn of the Millennium (Year 2000)
  • The 2006 movie The Penalty King is about a blind Leeds United fan[21].

Current squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF Ireland EIR Gary Kelly (Injured (back problem))
3 DF Scotland SCO Stephen Crainey
4 MF Ireland EIR Jonathan Douglas
5 DF England ENG Ugo Ehiogu (on loan from Middlesbrough)
7 MF England ENG Ian Westlake
9 FW Northern Ireland NIR David Healy
10 FW England ENG Geoff Horsfield (on loan from Sheffield United)
11 MF United States USA Eddie Lewis
15 DF England ENG Frazer Richardson
16 MF Iceland ISL Gylfi Einarsson
17 MF France FRA Sebastian Carole
18 MF England ENG Kevin Nicholls (Injured (damaged medial knee ligaments))
19 DF England ENG Matt Heath (on loan from Coventry City)
20 DF Australia AUS Hayden Foxe
21 MF England ENG Shaun Derry
22 FW England ENG Ian Moore
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 GK Ireland EIR Graham Stack (on loan from Reading)
24 DF Angola ANG Rui Manuel Marques
25 FW England ENG Richard Cresswell (Injured (knee problem))
26 DF England ENG Matthew Kilgallon (Injured (ankle injury))
27 FW Democratic Republic of the Congo COD Trésor Kandol (on loan from Barnet)
28 FW England ENG Robbie Blake
31 GK Trinidad and Tobago TRI Tony Warner (on loan from Fulham)
32 FW England ENG Jermaine Beckford
33 FW England ENG Jonathan Howson
34 MF Ireland EIR Robert Bayly
35 DF Ireland EIR Simon Madden
36 GK England ENG Jonathan Lund
42 MF England ENG Danny Rose
-- DF England ENG Sam Hird
-- MF England ENG Gavin Rothery

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
1 GK Scotland SCO Neil Sullivan (on loan to Doncaster Rovers until Jan 2007)
6 DF Ireland EIR Paul Butler (on loan at MK Dons until Jan 2007)
8 DF England ENG Sean Gregan (on loan to until Jan 2007)
30 DF England ENG Ben Parker (on loan to Bradford City until Jan 2007)

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2006-07 transfers

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