Fernando Hierro was playing for Real Madrid at the time.
Fernando Hierro
Spanish legend Fernando Hierro has been linked with the vacant managerial role at Leeds United, after stepping down from his role at Real Oviedo.
Hierro surged to the top of the bookies lists, with SkyBet having him as low as 3/1 at one point after he stepped down from his current club.
Hierro celebrates
The appointment of Hierro, who made 89 caps for Spain and won the Champions League three times as a player, would certainly excite Leeds fans. But the 49-year-old has crossed paths with the West Yorkshire side before.
On the 23rd November 2000 David O’Leary’s young Leeds side welcomed Real Madrid to Elland Road for a Champions League clash. Leeds lost that game 2-0, and the first goal of the night was scored by Hierro. He rose above Jonathan Woodgate to header home a Luis Figo cross and give Real a 1-0 lead. Raul’s strike two minutes later sealed the result.
Hierro scores
Both teams went on to make the semi-finals of the competition that season, Real losing to Bayern Munich and Leeds losing to Valencia. It was the peak of a golden era at Leeds which eventually crumbled.
Leeds fans will undoubtedly hope that whoever does come in as the new manager at Elland Road, Hierro or not, they can bring back nights like this to the club in the future.
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