The story of two countryman enjoying vastly contrasting times with Leeds United has a strangely familiar feeling.
Pontus Jansson of Leeds United
If you were to ask most Leeds fans right now who their favourite player from the current squad is, there is surely one name that would come out on top.
Pontus Jansson has been brilliant in his first year with the Whites and has already earned cult-hero status at Elland Road, but it was arguably the acquisition of his countryman that got Leeds fans excited in the summer.
Marcus Antonsson was an unknown quantity to the majority of supporters, but arrived for one of the largest fees that Leeds have spent for several years – £2 million (via Yorkshire Evening Post) – and had scored nine goals in his final eight games for former club Kalmar.
However, it is Jansson who has established himself as a key man for Leeds under Garry Monk, while Antonsson’s hopes of earning first-team football in the current system look extremely bleak, with just one league goal under his belt so far.
In some ways therefore, there is an extremely familiar feeling surrounding the situations involving Antonsson and Jansson.
Leeds United’s Marcus Antonsson and Fulham’s Michael Madl in action
In 1994, Leeds acquired South African pair Phil Masinga and Lucas Radebe, with the former boasting the much greater reputation, having attracted Porto’s attention before moving to Yorkshire (via Yorkshire Evening Post).
However, it would ultimately prove to be Radebe who became a Leeds legend during his time at Elland Road, making over 250 appearances in all competitions and nearly guiding the Whites to the top of both the domestic and European mountain, with David O’Leary’s men reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2001.
Meanwhile, the much-hyped Masinga stayed at Leeds for just two years, scoring five times in 31 Premier League games.
Lucas Radebe
It could therefore be argued that the South African pair’s fortunes somewhat mirror what has happened with the Swedish duo so far with the much anticipated striker signing failing to capture the imagination while the slightly under-the-radar defender turns out to be a much-loved addition.
And while it is too early to suggest that their stories will continue to follow a slightly similar path, Leeds fans would undoubtedly be overjoyed if, in Jansson, they have found themselves another Lucas Radebe.
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