The 67-year-old has returned to the Championship as manager of Cardiff City.
Few names in football are as divisive as Neil Warnock.
The 67-year-old has a proven track record of galvanising a team and leading them to Championship glory – he has led two of his teams to promotion to the Premier League – or safety, as he did with Rotherham United last season.
But one team with whom he did neither was Leeds United. In just under 15 months, Warnock occasionally threatened to be the man to help end the Whites’ top flight exile, but ultimately ended up leaving with the club no closer to the promotion that has now eluded them for the last 12 years.
Nevertheless, he still enjoyed an incredibly intriguing tenure, so in the wake of the news that Cardiff City announced on their official website that he has been appointed as their new manager, here is a look at his spell at Elland Road along with some of the images that defined his time in charge.
Former Leeds United manager Neil Warnock (R) in his first game in charge, against Portsmouth
While the announcement of his arrival at Leeds was made ahead of their game with Doncaster on February 18th 2012, his first official game in charge was against Portsmouth one week later. Despite reportedly inspiring the team to turn things around against Donny – Leeds had been 2-0 down at half-time before winning 3-2 – he could not inspire a similar response at Fratton Park as the game ended goalless.
Rickie Lambert scores Southampton’s winning goal against Leeds
It was in his next game that United would taste defeat for the first time against Southampton. A Rickie Lambert volley may have been the difference in the scoreline, but the Saints undoubtedly had Kelvin Davis to thank as the goalkeeper’s inspired display denied Leeds from making their second-half dominance count.
Leeds United’s Michael Brown (L) and Robert Snodgrass applaud the fans at the end of the game following win over Middlesbrough
His first win in charge would come nearly after a month after his appointment as Leeds beat Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Riverside Stadium. Robert Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio grabbed the goals in the first-half.
The first indication that things may not be easy to turn around came when Leeds suffered an incredible 7-3 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest. United had taken the lead, and were level at 3-3 after Warnock-favourite Michael Brown had equalised, but the away side stormed to the emphatic victory with Garath McCleary scoring four.
Billy Paynter scoring his first as Leeds went to claim a 4-1 win against Peterborough
A 4-1 victory against Peterborough was the brightest moment during an unspectacular end to the season. Billy Paynter would enjoy his best day in a Leeds shirt with a brace – he would score just once more in 26 league appearances – and the Whites would end the season in 14th.
El Hadji Diouf of Leeds United warms up before the game
Unsurprisingly, Warnock completely revamped the squad in the summer, making 11 signings. And while Paddy Kenny’s arrival was the least surprising, one signing that stunned many was that of El-Hadji Diouf. Warnock and the former Senegal international had engaged in a very public spat some years previously, but somehow managed to put that behind them it seemed.
Leeds United’s Luciano Becchio scored the winner against Wolves
After a thumping League Cup win on the opening day was followed by a 1-0 win over recently-relegated Wolves in the Championship curtain-raiser, it appeared that Warnock may be on to something given the stature of the team they had just beaten. As it turned out however, beating Wolves during that campaign was nothing to shout about as they were relegated once again.
Chris Kirkland (hidden) of Sheffield Wednesday receives medical treatment on the pitch after being assaulted
One of the darkest moments of Warnock’s tenure came at Hillsborough as Michael Tonge’s stunning late equaliser was overshadowed by the disgraceful actions of a person from the away end as he ran onto the pitch and assaulted Wednesday stopper Chris Kirkland.
Luciano Becchio celebrates scoring the third goal for Leeds United from the penalty spot v Southampton
Amongst another average run of results in the league, Leeds enjoyed an exciting run in the League Cup. A victory against Everton was followed by another win against top flight opponents as Southampton were beaten 3-0.
Huddersfield manager Simon Grayson (L) shakes hands with Leeds manager Neil Warnock before the game
Another satisfying victory for Warnock would have come as Leeds travelled across Yorkshire and beat Huddersfield 4-2. The match pitted Warnock against Simon Grayson, the man he had essentially replaced at Elland Road, while Adam Clayton – who had been allowed to leave United for the Terriers just months before – sent a message to the man who had let him go with his celebration when he made the score 2-2. But on that day at least, Warnock had the last laugh.
It was also during Warnock’s tenure that Ken Bates’ ownership came to an end as the club was sold to GFH Capital. Despite the initial optimism following their takeover, the Dubai-based group will be remembered as one of the least popular owners the club has had.
Ross McCormack (R) celebrates after scoring the second goal for Leeds United as Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur looks dejected
Warnock took another Premier League scalp, this time in the FA Cup, as a Gareth Bale-inspired Tottenham were beaten 2-1 at Elland Road.
Steve Morison of Leeds United looks dejected after missing a chance to score
The month would end poorly for Leeds however as cult-hero Luciano Becchio departed for Norwich. Though Steve Morison would move in the opposite direction, the Welshman would fail to provide the goals that the team had lost following Becchio’s departure.
Jake Buxton (C) celebrates scoring the second gol for Derby with team mates
A worrying slide meant that when Leeds lost at home to Derby County on April 1st 2013, the writing was on the wall for Warnock’s tenure and he left the club just hours after the final whistle. With the team just five points above the bottom three at the time, it was clear that what should have been a match made in heaven had simply failed.
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