Leeds finally back after painful journey
When Leeds United went into administration in 2007, their new chairman Ken Bates commented: “Right now we are at the bottom of our cycle, but Leeds United are one of the big six clubs. The small clubs can have their day in the sun but eventually they go back where they came from. Leeds will always be a big club.”
After a 16-year hiatus, Leeds are back in the Premier league under the inspired leadership of manager Marcelo Bielsa, assisted of course by a very decent squad.
They have played attractive football which has also been successful, a combination not easy to achieve.
Bielsa has already become part of Leeds folklore.
If Bielsa stays, it might take the Argentine gaffa some time to reach the heights of the top six that Bates spoke of all those years ago, but there is a strong feeling that the Whites can once again firmly establish themselves in the top flight.
Many clubs will not relish their trip to Elland Road next season.
Leeds are a club with a considerable history, having won the top flight three times, one FA Cup and one League Cup.
They also reached the final of the European Cup in 1975, losing to Bayern Munich.
For a couple of decades, they were one of the most formidable teams in English football.
To fully comprehend the impact of Leeds on English football, it is
necessary to go back to the days when Don Revie took over as manager in 1961, when the club was a struggling Division Two side.
One of Revie’s first actions was to change the colours to an all-white strip, reflecting the manager’s admiration of Real Madrid who were the outstanding team in Europe.
More importantly, using a youth policy, Revie won promotion and soon Leeds were battling with the “big boys.”
This launched a golden era. Under Revie thy won the league twice (1969 and 74), although it could have been more as they had to settle for runners-up an amazing five times.
They also appeared in three FA Cup finals, but only winning once. Those near misses were reflected in the title of Bill Bremner’s autobiography You Get Nowt For Being Second.
They were a formidable team with players like Bremner, Jack Charlton and Norman Hunter, the latter two sadly passing away recently.
What a shame they didn’t get to see their team back in the Premier
League.
Other outstanding players included Peter Lorimer, Johnny Giles, Bobby Collins and Allan Clarke.
Leeds were physically intimidating and their aggressive style prompted much criticism.
Jimmy Greaves wrote in his autobiography This One’s On Me: “I didn’t used to be frightened on a football pitch. But I was always relieved to get off in one piece particularly when the likes of Leeds United were kicking anything that moved.”
Arsenal captain Frank McLintock observed of Revie’s teams: “Leeds would try to win by fair means or foul.”
Their sometimes rowdy supporters were also not the most popular around the league.
Leeds chairman at that time, Paul Risdale, felt the criticism was unjust, commenting: “I’ve never known another club that so many people have such a negative image of.”
The club could not sustain their 70s success and in 1982 were relegated from the old First Division.
After eight years in the second tier, they won promotion under Harold Wilkinson and in 1992, the season before the Premier League was launched, won the title again with players like Gordon Strachan and Lee Chapman.
Then things started to go wrong. In their bold bid for European success, the club heavily overspent on players and were building up a huge debt.
In a desperate bid to raise funds, Risdale sold Rio Ferdinand against manager David O’ Leary’s wishes. It affected their form and O’Leary was sacked.
A series of managers were appointed including Terry Venables and Peter Reid.
After a poor start to the 2003-4 season, Reid was sacked and Leeds were relegated.
More importantly they were in a huge financial mire from which there was no escape. Since then they have gone through 14 managers.
Leeds’ decline was painful. In 2006, they lost the Championship play-off final to Watford.
Absolutely broke, they went into administration at the end of the 2006-7 season.
They were relegated for the first time to the third tier where they remained for three frustrating seasons.
Reflecting the despair, T-shirts worn by Leeds fans read: “2004 Premiership; 2005 Championship; 2007 Sinkingship; 2008 Abandonship.”
But now they are back where most people feel they belong. However, it won’t be easy and much depends on Bielsa renewing his contract.
For neutrals, the mouth-watering prospect of Leeds taking on old foes like Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool can only add spice to the forthcoming season.