The Whites have just begun their 13th season outside of the top flight, and are currently playing in the Championship.
While Leeds United may have just started their 13th season since being relegated from the Premier League in 2004, they are still spoken of as one of the sleeping giants currently trying to claw their way back into the top flight.
The Whites went into the Premier League era as the defending champions, having won the Division One title just two seasons after being promoted from the second tier.
While they would never reach the summit again before their well-publicised issues saw them tumbling to the bottom of League One, they would take their place in the title race on a couple of occasions – though they ran out of steam before the race really got interesting – and reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2001.
With that in mind, here is a look at Leeds United’s all-time Premier League XI…
GK- Nigel Martyn
The retired England international was undoubtedly one of the first names on the teamsheet during the Whites’ most successful period in the Premier League era. His reliability and experience was crucial to the young and inexperienced side that made a big impact domestically and in Europe around the turn of the Millennium.
RB – Gary Kelly
Gary Kelly spent his entire professional career at Elland Road, joining in 1991 and staying – even after relegation to the Championship – until he retired in 2007. Like Martyn, the former Republic of Ireland international’s consistency was invaluable, and he would go on to make more than 530 appearances for the Peacocks.
CB – Lucas Radebe
When the South African arrived in Yorkshire in 1994, few would have expected him to become arguably the biggest cult-hero in the club’s history. However, his fighting spirit quickly endeared him to supporters, and while injuries would hamper much of his later years, his leadership was a key reason why the team spirit during much of David O’Leary’s tenure was so positive.
CB – Rio Ferdinand
While Ferdinand’s move to Manchester United did little for his rapport with Leeds supporters, he was still arguably the most talented centre-back the club had during the Premier League era. His move from West Ham made him the world’s most expensive defender for a time, and he would prove to be worth the money during his spell. His most notable contribution is perhaps the third goal in the first-leg of United’s Champions League quarter-final clash with Deportivo in 2001, which ultimately proved to be the winning goal in the tie, sending the side into the last four.
LB – Ian Harte
Few full-backs in the Premier League era have been as technically gifted as Ian Harte. The 39-year-old was a solid defender, but it was in attacking areas that he really earned his reputation. Brilliant at taking free-kicks and penalties, he would also score in the clash with Deportivo, and would end his Leeds career with 39 goals in all competitions.
RM – Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan may have been entering the twilight of his career when he moved to Leeds, but that did not stop him making more league appearances for the Whites than he did at any of his previous clubs. After captaining the side to the league title in 1992, Strachan continued to be a key man for another two seasons, and it was perhaps only his influence that helped United avoid the drop in the season immediately following their title win.
CM – Lee Bowyer
While David Batty arguably deserves a place in the side, he only spent one season with Leeds in the Premier League during his first spell, while his second spell was continually hampered by injury, so instead the controversial midfielder sneaks in ahead of him. Bowyer’s best years were undoubtedly spent at Elland Road, and he would twice be named the supporters’ player of the year. His brightest spell surely came during the club’s Champions League run, and his feisty nature on the pitch perfectly complemented some of the exciting football that was also on show during that time.
CM – Gary McAllister
It says a lot about how special a player Gary McAllister was during his time at Leeds that his disappointing spell as manager has not done anything to harm his reputation amongst the Elland Road faithful. The Scotsman was the side’s talisman during their title win, and remained in that role for several seasons after. His set-piece delivery was often exceptional, and he always contributed goals.
LM – Gary Speed
The third of the title-winning midfield to make the team, Gary Speed’s consistency and longevity was a key reason that he was considered a hero at every club he played for during his career. At Leeds, Speed became a first-team regular while still a teenager and would still manage to impress enough to earn his way into the PFA Team of the Year during the 1992-93 campaign despite the club’s hugely underwhelming campaign. His ability to play anywhere as if it was his natural position also made him a manager’s dream.
ST – Tony Yeboah
Other strikers have scored more goals than Tony Yeboah, and other strikers have been part of better teams, but perhaps no forward quite captured the imagination like the former Ghana international did. He scored 32 league goals during his time with Leeds, but two will forever stick out in the supporters’ mind. The first, a stunning volley against Liverpool was somehow surpassed by a sensational solo goal against Wimbledon during the same season.
ST – Mark Viduka
No player in the Premier League era has scored more goals in a Leeds United shirt than Mark Viduka. The Australian scored 59 times in just four seasons for the Whites, largely down to the fact that he always seemed comfortable playing alongside any of the other strikers within the club’s ranks. The highlight of his spell with Leeds undoubtedly came in the 4-3 win against Liverpool when he scored all four goals to help the Whites claim a dramatic victory.
Manager – David O’Leary
While O’Leary could not lead Leeds to silverware during his tenure, his spell in charge was unquestionably the club’s most successful since the beginning of the Premier League. While it eventually all crumbled, there was a time when he looked like he could be the man to take Leeds to Europe’s summit.
Substitutes: John Lukic/Paul Robinson, Tony Dorigo, David Wetherall, Dominic Matteo, David Batty, Harry Kewell, Alan Smith
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
