Will Leeds United ever recapture former glories?
Leeds players celebrate reaching Champions League semi-finals
It is 17 years ago today that Leeds United stunned Roma to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
A strike from Harry Kewell was enough for the Yorkshire side to reach Europe’s final four, with goalkeeper Nigel Martyn keeping a second successive clean sheet to seal a 1-0 aggregate win.
David O’Leary’s side were riding the crest of a wave, and had no idea how the club as they knew it would suddenly collapse.
David O’Leary celebrates Leeds reaching Champions League semi-finals
David O’Leary and Leeds players celebrate reaching Champions League semi-finals
The Whites saw off a talented Roma side boasting Francesco Totti, Vincenzo Montella and Marco Delvecchio to seal the win, which saw the duo of Zago and Vincent Candela both sent off.
The Leeds defence was marshalled by Lucas Radebe and Alf Inge Haaland, with Lee Bowyer and Alan Smith adding threat from midfield and attack.
17 years ago is a long time in football, and this seems like a lifetime ago.
Last night Leeds co-owner Andrea Radrizzani was at the Nou Camp to watch Barcelona’s amazing comeback in the Champions League quarter-finals against Paris Saint-Germain.
Stuck in England’s second tier, Leeds’ hopes of ever recapturing their former glories are a long way off.
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