Mighty Leeds Weblog

AWAY GOALS ROOLZ Written by: Rob Conlon Troyes were only formed in 1986, but even before appointing Paddy Kisnorbo as manager in 2022, they’d found time for history with Leeds United. Drawn together in the second round of the 2001/02 UEFA Cup, Troyes manager Alain Perrin described the fixture as “David contre Goliath”, writing in his programme notes, “Leeds are like Everest, and conquering them would be a remarkable exploit.” David O’Leary was warning his players against complacency. Troyes qualified for the tournament after beating Newcastle in one of three finals of a long lost competition I now dream of Leeds being able to compete in, the Intertoto Cup. In the second leg at St James’ Park, Troyes embarrassed the hosts by taking a 4-1 lead. Gary Speed scored to help Newcastle come back to earn a 4-4 draw, but Troyes still qualified on away goals. Leeds went into the first leg at Elland Road off the back of a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, and were top of the Premier Leag...

The former West Ham United defender would make the £18million move to Leeds to become one of the most expensive defenders of his time Former Leeds United defender Rio Ferdinand has lifted the lid on his record breaking move to Elland Road. He was one of the hottest prospects in English football and has since enjoyed an illustrious career. However, the former Whites defender claims he didn't want to leave the Hammers, but it be the best decision of his career. Ferdinand claims to have turned down a move to Chelsea, who were offering the match Leeds' offer, but a phonecall with David O'Leary saw him sign on the dotted line. Speaking to the Joe Cole Cast, Ferdinand said: "Leeds were a team that were hoovering up all the best young players. They had a really exciting squad that were on the cusp of some success it seemed - who could challenge a Man United at the time, playing Champions League Football. "Do you know what, I didn't want to leave West Ham but ...

Leeds United will discover their opening-day opponents next week as part of Thursday’s new Premier League season fixture’s release. By Lee Sobot Based on the betting markets, the Whites are expected to finish 15th in their third season back in the top flight. Twenty one years ago, David O’Leary’s side were predicted to end the 2001-02 campaign in fourth having filled the same position the previous season – in addition to reaching the Champion League semi-finals. After watching Leeds beat opening-day opponents Southampton in August 2001, Terry Venables felt United might finish even higher than fourth – yet O’Leary’s side dropped to fifth as the first signs of the slide appeared. Venables, who would end up being a Leeds manager the following year, cast his view as part ITV’s coverage of the opening day of the season. United’s first test came against a Saints side who had finished the previous term in 10th place under boss Stuart Gray, Glenn Hoddle having left for the Tottenha...

DEAD CAT Written by: Moscowhite • Daniel Chapman The Telegraph’s ‘exclusive’ news that Kalvin Phillips scraped his head at the team Christmas party and needed ‘treatment’ (a plaster?) for a ‘head injury’ (a cut?) helps my theory that modern Premier League players are becoming more wholesome over time. ‘England international needs bruise kissing better scandal!’ Some top level players are being paid so much their wealth could eventually outstrip their employers, but they can’t fritter their money like earlier waves of nouveau riche in the Premier League. To compete you’ve got to be booze-free, plant based, monitoring your sleep and taking care of your mind. It’s harder and harder to get away with a night on the town two nights before a game, and besides, Wayne Rooney is shambling around the Championship basement like one of Scrooge’s ghosts, and no modern player wants to take the route he’s taken when they could be James Milner, washing his Champions League medal in Ribena. The mo...

Marcelo Bielsa will prove a hard act to follow when the time comes for the Argentine to leave Leeds United. By Flora Snelson Bielsa has set a very high standard for Whites bosses to come, both on and off the pitch, delivering Leeds’ long-awaited promotion to the Premier League and earning the respect of the city and the global fanbase. But Elland Road has not always been blessed with such talent and dignity. We’ve worked out the club’s best and worst managers over the last 30 years, ranking them in order of win percentage. Included are every manager who’s taken charge of the Whites on a matchday since 1991, caretakers and all. 1 - Marcelo Bielsa - 51.7% 77 wins in 149 games officially makes Marcelo Bielsa the best Leeds United manager of the past thirty years. To the majority of Whites fans, Bielsa was something of a non-entity when he arrived at the club in the summer of 2018. He soon found his way into the hearts of the Elland Road faithful for his humble ways and enterta...

SAFE HANDS Written by Rob Conlon Signing Nigel Martyn for Leeds United in 1996 fit perfectly with Howard Wilkinson’s ten-year plan. Wilkinson had made sure Leeds were not left behind by the looming breakaway of the Premier League by winning promotion in 1990, and the club’s investment in the academy and youth development was beginning to bear fruit. Ian Harte was already in the first team, and by the end of the 1996/97 season, Paul Robinson, Jonathan Woodgate, Stephen McPhail and Harry Kewell were lifting the FA Youth Cup, with Alan Smith not far behind. To aid the transition, in came Martyn, the most expensive goalkeeper in Britain, alongside Lee Bowyer, the most expensive teenager. The problem was that Wilkinson had undermined his own plan by making Leeds champions of England six years ahead of schedule, meaning fans and directors were no longer feeling quite so patient about finishing 17th, 5th (twice) and 13th after winning the title. Nigel Martyn spoke to us for an episode...

BIG NIGE Written by Rob Conlon For better or worse, Leeds United were very often The Big Story under Peter Ridsdale. It could be exciting, but it could also be frightening. Thankfully, we knew that whatever trouble Ridsdale, David O’Leary, Lee Bowyer or Jonathan Woodgate got us into, when it came down to Saturday afternoon, the opposition were going to have to get past Nigel Martyn. He was a calm, stoic, reassuring presence between the posts. Martyn hasn’t changed much since. After interviewing him with Dan Moylan, for The Extra Ball, our Michael Normanton said speaking to Nigel made him feel warm and fuzzy. Listening to Leeds United’s greatest ever goalkeeper speak, I can imagine being a defender in front of him, hanging on to every shouted instruction, knowing it’s the right thing to do because Nigel Martyn says so. It’s equally soothing to hear Martyn discussing some of the more controversial moments from his time at Elland Road. His voice remains forthright, while his takes...

Gary Meenaghan At the turn of the millennium and a decade before he arrived in Dubai with grand ideas and a grander financial package, David O'Leary was coach of one of the most exciting football teams in Europe. The Irishman's Leeds United side of 2000/01 stood toe-to-toe with Manchester United and sucker-punched Arsenal; attacked Real Madrid at the Bernabeu and slugged it out with AC Milan in Italy. They were ambitious and energetic and boasted players worth tens of millions of pounds. Leeds were seen as the future of the English Premier League and yet in truth – and certainly in the club's financial accounts – their future could hardly have been bleaker. Within three years, and crippled by debts, they were relegated from the top flight. Another three years and they were playing in the third tier of English football, having voluntarily entered administration. Yet today, just over 10 years since the start of their final, ill-fated Premier League campaign, there is re...

Reid and O'Leary offer to help out The Leeds players may have turned their noses up at the club in their hour of need - but former managers Peter Reid and David O'Leary are willing to help by deferring payments on their compensation payments. With the Leeds players announcing they will take a wage deferral only as a last resort, acting-chairman Trevor Birch has spent the last few days exploring all avenues in a bid to raise the cash needed to see the club through to the end of the season. Birch has made it clear no player is to leave before the transfer window closes next Saturday, which would undermine the battle for survival for the Barclaycard Premiership's bottom club. Leeds need between £3.5m and £5m in order to trade over the next four months, yet despite the constant speculation surrounding Alan Smith, Mark Viduka, Paul Robinson and James Milner, they all now seem set to remain at Elland Road. In order to generate the cash required, Birch is considering turning to th...