History of Leeds United F.C. facts for kids

The history of Leeds United Football Club, a professional football team from Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, began in 1919. The club was formed after the previous team, Leeds City F.C., was closed down.

Leeds United had their most successful time under manager Don Revie in the 1960s and 1970s. They won the English league title twice, the FA Cup once, and the League Cup once. They also won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup twice and the Charity Shield in 1969. Leeds reached the finals of the European Cup Winners Cup in 1973 and the European Cup in 1975. Later, Leeds won another league title in 1991–92 with manager Howard Wilkinson, and the Charity Shield in 1992.

Early Days: Leeds City and Formation of Leeds United

Leeds United's first club was Leeds City F.C., started in 1904. However, the Football League closed them down in 1919. This happened because of money problems and claims of illegal payments to players during the First World War.

Soon after Leeds City was disbanded, a new club, Leeds United, was formed on 17 October 1919. Former player Dick Ray became the manager. They started playing in the Midland League. Another local team, Yorkshire Amateurs, offered their home ground, Elland Road, to the new club.

In 1920, Huddersfield Town's chairman, Hilton Crowther, bought Leeds United. He wanted to combine the two clubs, but fans in Huddersfield stopped this idea. Enough money was raised to buy Crowther out, so he focused only on Leeds United.

On 31 May 1920, Leeds United joined the Football League. They were voted into the Second Division. Because of the link with Huddersfield, Leeds first wore Huddersfield's home colours.

First Steps in the League (1919–1929)

Honours Won: Second Division Championship (1923–24)

Leeds' first manager was Dick Ray. However, chairman Hilton Crowther soon brought in Arthur Fairclough from Huddersfield. Ray became Fairclough's assistant.

Leeds' first league game was against Port Vale, losing 2–0. A week later, they won their first home game at Elland Road, beating Port Vale 3–1. In their first season, 1920–21, Leeds finished 14th. Over the next few seasons, they improved, finishing 8th and 7th.

In 1923–24, Leeds won the Second Division Championship. Key players included Jim Baker, Bert Duffield, and Ernie Hart.

Leeds found it tough in the First Division in 1924–25, finishing 18th. The next season was even harder, and they barely avoided relegation. In 1926–27, Leeds were relegated back to the Second Division. Fairclough resigned, and Dick Ray returned as manager.

In 1927–28, Ray's first season back, Leeds were promoted again. They finished second to Manchester City. The team did well back in the First Division, finishing 13th in 1928–29. The following season, Leeds finished 5th, their best position yet.

Ups and Downs in the 1930s

Leeds had inconsistent results in the 1930s. After their best finish, they were relegated in 1930–31. But they were promoted straight back to the First Division in 1931–32, finishing second.

Back in the First Division, Leeds finished 8th in 1932–33 and 9th in 1933–34. Key player Wilf Copping left for Arsenal in 1934. His absence was felt, and Leeds dropped to 18th place in 1934–35.

Dick Ray resigned and was replaced by Billy Hampson. Hampson brought in experienced players and promising youngsters. In 1934–35, Leeds changed their kit to half yellow and half blue, honoring the old Leeds City club. They also adopted their first badge, using the city crest.

The club finished 11th in 1935–36. However, 1936–37 saw another slump, with Leeds finishing 19th. 1937–38 was better, with striker Gordon Hodgson scoring 25 goals. Leeds finished 9th. The 1938–39 season was the last full season before World War II, and Leeds finished 13th.

Post-War Struggles (1946–1953)

After the war, in the 1946–47 season, Leeds United had a very tough time. They earned only 18 points, one of the lowest totals in First Division history. They also had their worst away record, getting just one point from 21 away matches. After relegation, manager Billy Hampson was replaced by former player Willis Edwards.

Edwards struggled as manager, and the 1947–48 season was a fight to avoid relegation to the Third Division. After just one year, Edwards became assistant manager again. The board then appointed Major Frank Buckley.

Buckley had managed other clubs successfully. However, his first season at Leeds was another relegation battle. Leeds finished 15th in 1948–49, a season that saw John Charles make his league debut.

In 1949–50, Buckley brought in younger players. His new team finished a good 5th in the Second Division and reached the 6th round of the FA Cup. This season also saw Leeds sign a 15-year-old Jack Charlton.

Buckley continued to rebuild the team. By 1951–52, Leeds finished 6th. Buckley was frustrated by some players not reaching their potential and a lack of money from the board.

For the 1952–53 season, Buckley moved John Charles from defense to a centre forward role. Charles scored 27 goals in 29 games. Jack Charlton also made his debut as a defender. However, the defense suffered without Charles, and Leeds finished 10th. Buckley resigned at the end of the season.

Promotion and a Big Sale (1953–1957)

The Leeds board replaced Buckley with former England star Raich Carter. Carter was very critical of his players, which affected team spirit. He focused all his attention on John Charles, who scored 42 goals in 39 games. Despite Charles's goals, Leeds were inconsistent, finishing 10th in 1953–54.

In 1954–55, the club played better under Carter, finishing 4th and just missing promotion. John Charles was wanted by First Division clubs, but the board rejected his Transfer Request.

Carter moved Charles back to defense for the 1955–56 season. Leeds finished as Second Division runners-up, returning to the First Division for the first time since 1947. Regular players included Charlton, Eric Kerfoot, Jimmy Dunn, and Grenville Hair.

Leeds finished a good 8th in their return to the First Division in 1956–57, with John Charles being key. However, in September 1956, a fire destroyed the West Stand at Elland Road. The damage was huge, and the club's insurance was not enough. To raise money, the club reluctantly considered offers for Charles. Charles wanted to play at the highest level, and Leeds could not convince him to stay. He was sold to Juventus for a world record fee of £65,000.

Losing Charles affected the team, and in the 1957–58 season, Leeds finished 17th. The club decided not to renew Carter's contract.

Decline and Relegation (1958–1961)

Bill Lambton became acting manager for the 1958–59 season. He had little experience. Players were unhappy, and the board sacked Lambton in January 1959. Willis Edwards returned as temporary manager, and Leeds avoided relegation. Lambton's main action was signing Don Revie, who was ending his playing career.

Jack Taylor took over as manager. Leeds were relegated to the Second Division at the end of the 1959–60 season. Taylor resigned in March 1961 and was replaced by Revie.

Don Revie: The Glory Days (1961–1974)

Honours Won: First Division Championship (1968–69, 1973–74), FA Cup (1971–72), Football League Cup (1967–68), Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (1967–68, 1970–71), Charity Shield (1969–70), Second Division Championship (1963–64)

Under Don Revie, Leeds had their most successful period. When he started, the club had money problems. In the 1961–62 season, a win in the final game saved them from relegation to the Third Division.

Revie made big changes. He adopted the all-white colours of Real Madrid. He focused on finding and developing young talent instead of just buying older players. He brought in experienced coaches and created a family atmosphere at the club. Revie was very detailed in his pre-match plans, studying opponents carefully. Coaches also made sure players were very fit.

Revie built a new team with talented young players like Norman Hunter, Paul Reaney, Peter Lorimer, Eddie Gray, Billy Bremner, Paul Madeley, and Albert Johanneson. They were supported by experienced players like Jack Charlton and Bobby Collins. Revie also smartly bought John Giles from Manchester United. In 1964, this new team won promotion back to the First Division.

Leeds made an immediate impact in the First Division. They started the 1964–65 season with a great 4–2 win over champions Liverpool. They finished second in the league, losing the title on goal difference. They reached the FA Cup Final but lost 2–1 to Liverpool.

In the 1965–66 season, Leeds finished second in the league again. They also reached the semi-finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The 1966–67 season saw Leeds finish 4th in the league. They reached the FA Cup Semi-finals and were runners-up in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, losing to Dinamo Zagreb.

Leeds chased four trophies in the 1967–68 season. They led the league for a long time but finished fourth. They reached the FA Cup semi-finals. However, they won their first domestic and European trophies: the League Cup and the Fairs Cup. Terry Cooper scored the winning goal in the League Cup final against Arsenal. A goal from Mick Jones secured the Fairs Cup against Ferencváros. Leeds was the first British team to win this trophy.

Leeds won the First Division Championship for the first time in the 1968–69 season. They lost only two league games and were unbeaten at home. This was the best record in the 20th century.

At the start of the 1969–70 season, Don Revie signed Allan Clarke. He hoped to win the League, FA Cup, and European Cup. However, they won none of them. Leeds finished second in the League to Everton. They lost in the European Cup semi-finals to Celtic. Leeds also reached the FA Cup final but lost to Chelsea after a replay. The team played many games that season, leading to tired players.

In the 1970–71 season, Leeds were runners-up in the league again. A controversial referee decision against West Bromwich Albion cost them points. Despite winning their remaining games, Leeds lost the title to Arsenal by one point. They were knocked out of the FA Cup by a lower-division team, Colchester. However, Leeds won the Fairs Cup for a second time, beating Juventus.

The Fairs Cup was replaced by the UEFA Cup. Leeds played Barcelona in a special match to decide who kept the Fairs Cup permanently. Leeds lost 2–1.

Due to fan actions in the West Bromwich Albion game, Leeds were banned from playing their first five home games of the 1971–72 season at home. They still challenged for the Double (winning the league and FA Cup). An Allan Clarke goal won the FA Cup Final against Arsenal. However, a very busy schedule meant Leeds had to play three important games in one week. They lost their final league game to Wolves, and the league title went to Derby County by one point.

In the 1972–73 season, Leeds finished 3rd in the league. They reached two cup finals. In the 1973 FA Cup Final, a strong Leeds team lost 1–0 to Second Division Sunderland. Two weeks later, a weakened Leeds team lost 1–0 to A.C. Milan in the 1973 European Cup Winners' Cup Final. This match had many disputed referee decisions. Norman Hunter was sent off. The referee was later banned by UEFA, but no replay was given.

The shock of these losses motivated Revie's team. In Revie's final season, 1973–74, Leeds won the title. They went 29 matches unbeaten at the start, a record for the 20th century. Leeds lost only 4 league games all season. At the end of the season, Don Revie left to become England's national manager.

In his thirteen years, Revie led Leeds to many trophies and finals. His team was known for being well-organized, professional, and physically strong. They also played attacking football. Many of Revie's players became international stars.

Brian Clough: 44 Days of Turmoil (1974)

Runners Up: Charity Shield (1974–75)

Don Revie suggested Johnny Giles as his replacement. However, the Leeds board chose Brian Clough, a successful but outspoken manager. Clough had led Derby County to the league championship. Clough had often criticized Revie's team. His management style was very different from Revie's.

Clough reportedly upset the Leeds players from the start. He told senior players like Billy Bremner and Norman Hunter things they didn't like. Clough bought players he knew from Derby County.

Clough's first game was the 1974 FA Charity Shield against Liverpool. Leeds lost on penalties after a 1–1 draw. The match is remembered for Bremner and Kevin Keegan being sent off for fighting. Bremner received a long ban. Clough's time was also affected by injuries to key players. Leeds had a poor start to the league season, winning only one of their first six games.

The club directors were worried by the bad results. They talked to the players about the new manager. Some players felt Clough needed more time, while others disagreed. In September 1974, Clough was sacked after only 44 days in charge. Clough went on to achieve great success with Nottingham Forest.

Jimmy Armfield: Rebuilding the Team (1974–1978)

Runners Up: European Cup (1974–75)

Jimmy Armfield, a former England captain, replaced Clough in October 1974. He brought stability to the club. Leeds finished 9th in the league. Revie's old team had one last great run in the European Cup. They reached the final after beating Barcelona, a team led by Johan Cruyff.

However, Leeds lost another European final in controversial circumstances, falling 2–0 to defending champions Bayern Munich. Leeds had a goal disallowed and two penalty claims turned down. In response, some frustrated Leeds fans caused trouble at the stadium. This led to Leeds receiving a three-year ban from European football.

With help from Don Howe, Armfield successfully rebuilt Revie's aging team. He kept key players like Paul Madeley, Eddie Gray, and Trevor Cherry. He also made smart new signings like Tony Currie and Arthur Graham. In Armfield's four years, Leeds reached a European Cup Final, qualified for the UEFA Cup, and reached FA and League Cup semi-finals. They always finished in the top ten. However, the board wanted more success and dismissed him in July 1978.

Decline and Relegation (1978–1982)

Jock Stein became Leeds manager but left after just 44 days to manage the Scottish national team. In October 1978, the board appointed Jimmy Adamson. Adamson led Leeds back into Europe and reached a League Cup semi-final in his first season. However, some poor player sales led to a quick decline. The team won only four of their first seventeen league games in 1979–80. Adamson resigned in September 1980.

Former Leeds star Allan Clarke replaced Adamson. Clarke improved the defense, helping Leeds survive the 1980–81 season. But in the first game of the 1981–82 season, Leeds lost 5–1 to Swansea City. The team struggled to score goals. Clarke bought Peter Barnes for a club record fee, but he had little impact. Leeds were relegated at the end of the 1981–82 season. Clarke was sacked and replaced by former teammate Eddie Gray.

During this time, some Leeds United fans gained a negative reputation due to football hooliganism.

Seeking Promotion (1982–1988)

Clarke's spending left Leeds in a difficult financial situation. Gray had to focus on developing young players. He had no money to buy new players, and often the young talents he developed had to be sold. Young players like Neil Aspin, Denis Irwin, and John Sheridan emerged during this period.

The 1984–85 season saw Leeds challenge for promotion until the final game. However, a sad incident occurred at the away game against Birmingham City. A wall collapsed, leading to a tragic death and injuries.

Leeds started the 1985–86 season poorly, and relegation to the Third Division became a real possibility. Gray was sacked and replaced by another Revie teammate, former Leeds captain Billy Bremner. Bremner also found it hard to achieve promotion. Under him, Leeds lost the 1987 play-off final to Charlton Athletic. In the same year, they lost in the FA Cup semi-final to Coventry City. In October 1988, with the team near the bottom of the Second Division, Bremner was fired.

Howard Wilkinson: Re-emergence (1988–1996)

Honours Won: First Division Championship (1991–92), Second Division Championship (1989–90), Charity Shield (1992–93)

Howard Wilkinson aimed to build a team capable of promotion. He signed key players like Gordon Strachan, Vinnie Jones, and Lee Chapman. He also brought young players from the youth team, such as David Batty and Gary Speed. In the 1989–90 season, Leeds finally won promotion back to the First Division after eight years, as Second Division Champions.

Wilkinson continued to improve the team. In 1990, he made the club's first million-pound signings: goalkeeper John Lukic and midfielder Gary McAllister. The club finished 4th in the 1990–91 season. Wilkinson was given more money to sign players like Tony Dorigo and Rod Wallace.

The following season saw Leeds win the First Division championship, just ahead of Manchester United. This was the last title before the league became the Premier League. In January 1992, Wilkinson brought in French striker Eric Cantona. Leeds secured the title in the second-to-last game of the season. Wilkinson's team had a strong midfield.

The 1992–93 season started well, with Leeds beating Liverpool 4–3 in the Charity Shield. However, Eric Cantona was controversially sold to rivals Manchester United in November 1992. Leeds struggled for consistency and finished 17th in the League.

The 1993–94 season saw a much improved Leeds side finish 5th. The 1994–95 season also saw them finish 5th, qualifying for the UEFA Cup. Defender Lucas Radebe and striker Tony Yeboah were smart signings. However, Wilkinson also made some less successful signings.

Wilkinson's team in the mid-1990s did not meet expectations. The 1995–96 season saw Leeds finish 13th. They reached the League Cup final but lost 3–0 to Aston Villa.

Despite new players like Nigel Martyn and Lee Bowyer, Leeds started the 1996–97 season slowly. After a 4–0 home defeat by Manchester United, Wilkinson's contract was ended. Howard Wilkinson is the second most successful manager for the club, after Don Revie.

George Graham: Rejuvenation (1996–1998)

Leeds appointed George Graham as Wilkinson's replacement. Graham had faced some past issues at his previous club. When he arrived, player morale was low. He immediately focused on improving the team's defense. Leeds finished the 1996–97 season in 11th place. He made good signings like Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and brought in young Australian player Harry Kewell. Under Graham, Leeds finished 5th in the 1997–98 season, qualifying for the UEFA Cup. However, Graham left Leeds to manage Tottenham Hotspur early in the 1998–99 season.

David O'Leary: Living the Dream (1998–2002)

Semi-Finalists: UEFA Cup (1999–2000), UEFA Champions League (2000–01)

The Leeds board chose David O'Leary, George Graham's assistant manager. O'Leary brought in promising young players like Jonathan Woodgate, Alan Smith, and Stephen McPhail. These players joined established first-team members like Harry Kewell and Ian Harte. Leeds finished 4th in the 1998–99 season, qualifying for the UEFA Cup again.

The 1999–2000 season saw a great run in the UEFA Cup and good form in the league. Leeds finished 3rd, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

In the UEFA Cup, Leeds reached their first European semi-final in 25 years, playing against Turkish champions Galatasaray. Leeds lost the first leg 2–0 in Istanbul.

The 2000–01 season saw Leeds have a spectacular run in the Champions League. They played against big clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, and A.C. Milan. They eventually lost in the semi-finals to València. Leeds finished 4th in the league, just missing out on Champions League qualification.

The 2001–02 season saw continued investment in players. Leeds started well, topping the table on New Year's Day 2002. However, they then went two months without a league win and were knocked out of the FA Cup. Leeds finished 5th, again missing Champions League qualification. O'Leary was sacked at the end of the season. In four seasons, O'Leary had led Leeds to four top-five finishes and two European semi-finals.

Unknown to the public, chairman Peter Ridsdale had taken out large loans based on expected money from Champions League games. Since Leeds failed to qualify, there wasn't enough money to repay the debt. The first sign of financial trouble was the sale of Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United for £30 million, a world record for a defender.

Another Decline (2002–2004)

On 8 July 2002, Terry Venables, a former England coach, became O'Leary's successor. Despite Venables' hopes, Ferdinand was sold. Striker Robbie Keane also left. More key players were sold in January 2003 to repay debt and reduce high wages. The sale of Jonathan Woodgate particularly upset Venables, who had been promised the player would not be sold. Tensions grew, and Venables was sacked.

Peter Reid replaced Venables. Leeds were in danger of relegation but Reid saved them with a 3–2 win away to Arsenal in the second-to-last game. This result also helped Manchester United win the title.

Meanwhile, Peter Ridsdale resigned as chairman. Leeds reported a record loss of £49.5 million in October 2003, adding to their existing debt. Harry Kewell also left for Liverpool.

A poor start to the 2003–04 season led to Reid's dismissal. Former manager Eddie Gray was appointed as caretaker manager. Leeds continued to struggle financially. The club was eventually sold in early 2004 to a group led by new chairman Gerald Krasner. Leeds were relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2003–04 season. Gray's time as caretaker manager ended.

Many key players were sold, including Paul Robinson, Mark Viduka, and Alan Smith. Leeds had to sell their training ground and Elland Road stadium in autumn 2004 to help with finances.

Blackwell and Wise: Play-off Heartbreak and Relegation (2004–2007)

Runners-up: Championship play-off final (2005—06)

On 21 January 2005, Ken Bates bought a 50% share in the club for £10 million and became the new chairman. This investment helped save Leeds United from going into administration.

Manager Kevin Blackwell had to sell most of the remaining players. He built a team using loan players and experienced professionals. Leeds struggled at the start of the 2004–05 season but improved after Bates took over, finishing 14th.

With new players, the goal for the 2005–06 season was promotion. Blackwell's tactics were effective, and Leeds reached 3rd place in the Championship. However, their form dropped, and they ended up in a play-off spot. Leeds reached the Play-off final but lost 3–0 to Watford in a disappointing performance.

On 20 September 2006, after a poor start to the season, Kevin Blackwell's contract was ended. John Carver became caretaker manager, but after a series of defeats, he was also dismissed. Leeds fell to the bottom of the Championship table. Dennis Wise took charge on 25 October 2006. He tried to improve the team's fitness and brought in loan players. However, he could not bring consistency, and by May 2007, Leeds were relegated from the Championship after entering voluntary administration.

Administration and Points Deduction (2007)

Leeds entered voluntary Administration on 4 May 2007. This resulted in a 10-point deduction, which confirmed their relegation to League One. The administration was due to the large debts from Peter Ridsdale's time as chairman. Ken Bates blamed Ridsdale for the financial situation.

The club was sold to a company owned by Ken Bates. However, tax authorities challenged the sale, and the club was put up for sale again. Eventually, Bates' bid was chosen again. The league allowed the sale but imposed a 15-point deduction on Leeds for not following rules on clubs leaving administration. On 31 August 2007, the tax authorities accepted Bates' offer.

The Third Tier and Promotion (2007–2010)

Runners-up: League One Play Off Final (2007–08) Promotion From League One (2009–10)

After a transfer ban was lifted, Leeds signed players on 7 August 2007. They re-signed loan players and brought in new faces. Leeds won their first match in the third tier and their next six league games, equaling the club's best start to a season. Manager Dennis Wise was named League One's Manager of the Month for August and September 2007. However, Wise controversially left the club to join Newcastle United.

Former club captain Gary McAllister was appointed as the new manager. Leeds' form dropped after the New Year but improved towards the end of the season. They secured a play-off spot despite the 15-point deduction. Leeds beat Carlisle United to reach their first appearance at the new Wembley Stadium. However, Leeds lost the Play-off Final 1–0 to Doncaster Rovers.

Leeds struggled for consistency in the 2008/09 season. McAllister was sacked in December after a run of six defeats. Simon Grayson replaced him. Grayson improved the team's performances. Leeds reached the League One Play-offs again but lost to Millwall.

The 2009–10 season finally saw Leeds promoted to the Championship. They finished 2nd in League One. In the FA Cup, Leeds caused a major upset by beating then-Premier League champions Manchester United 1–0 at Old Trafford. Leeds United beat Bristol Rovers 2–1 in their final league game to secure promotion after three years in League One.

The club's finances improved under the new ownership. In their first 14 months, Leeds United made a profit, a big change from previous years.

Return to the Championship (2010–2014)

Leeds spent much of the next season in the play-off places. They finished in a respectable 7th place, just missing out on the play-offs. They also had the highest average attendance in the entire Football League.

In May 2011, chairman Ken Bates became the owner of Leeds. Some fans protested about a lack of investment in the team. Manager Grayson was sacked for not consistently challenging for promotion to the Premier League. Neil Warnock was appointed as the new manager.

On 21 November 2012, a private equity group, GFH Capital, finalized a deal to take over Leeds. Ken Bates remained chairman until the end of the 2012–13 season. The takeover was officially completed on 21 December 2012.

The Cellino Era (2014–2017)

On 5 April 2014, Massimo Cellino successfully appealed to take over the club. The takeover was completed on 10 April, with Cellino's company buying 75% of the club's shares. Two months later, the inexperienced Dave Hockaday was surprisingly appointed head coach. He was fired after only 70 days. Darko Milanič was given the job but left the following month. On 1 November 2014, Neil Redfearn became the new head coach.

On 1 December 2014, Cellino was disqualified by the Football League due to a tax evasion conviction in Italy. He was banned from running the club until 10 April 2015. Redfearn was replaced by Uwe Rosler in summer 2015, but Rosler was replaced by Steve Evans after only a few months.

On 2 June 2016, Garry Monk was appointed as the new head coach. On 4 January 2017, Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani purchased a 50% stake in the club from Massimo Cellino.

At the end of the 2016/17 season, Leeds narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs. They had been in the play-off positions for most of the season. They were also knocked out of the FA Cup by a non-league side, Sutton United.

The Radrizzani Era, Return to the Premier League (2017–2023)

Honours won: EFL Championship (2019–20)

On 23 May 2017, Radrizzani announced he had bought 100% of Leeds United from Massimo Cellino. Garry Monk resigned two days later. In June 2017, former Spain international Thomas Christiansen became the new Head Coach. Radrizzani also brought Leeds United Ladies back under club ownership. He completed the purchase of Elland Road, returning the stadium to the club's ownership for the first time since 2004.

In January 2018, Leeds announced a partnership with Aspire Academy in Qatar. On 4 February 2018, Thomas Christiansen was sacked after a bad run of games. Paul Heckingbottom was confirmed as his replacement. On 24 May 2018, 49ers Enterprises bought shares in the club, becoming a minority investor.

Heckingbottom was sacked on 1 June 2018 after just four months. Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa was named the club's new manager on 15 June. He became the highest-paid manager in Leeds United's history.

Bielsa's reign started impressively, with Leeds topping the Championship after nine games. They spent Christmas at the top of the table after winning seven games in a row.

Before a game in January 2019, manager Bielsa admitted he had sent a spy to an opponent's training ground. The English Football League (EFL) investigated the incident. Bielsa later gave a detailed presentation explaining his thorough research methods. The EFL fined Leeds £200,000, which Bielsa paid himself.

Leeds were in the top two for most of the season. However, they lost three of their last four games, missing out on automatic promotion to the Premier League. This included a controversial 1–1 home draw where Leeds allowed Aston Villa to score an equalizing goal after a disputed goal of their own. This result meant they finished 3rd and entered the Championship promotion play-offs.

Leeds lost 4–3 on aggregate to Derby County in the play-off semi-finals. This meant another season in the Championship.

In the 2019–20 season, Leeds finally ended their 16-year wait for Premier League football. On 17 July, West Brom failed to win their match, which guaranteed promotion for Leeds. Leeds won the league, finishing ten points clear of second-placed West Bromwich Albion.

The club’s first season back in the Premier League saw them finish in the top half. However, the following season was not as successful. Bielsa was sacked in February 2022 after a series of poor results. Jesse Marsch was appointed as his replacement. Marsch successfully led the club to avoid relegation on the final day of the season. Marsch was sacked in February 2023.

Former Watford manager Javi Gracia was appointed as Marsch's replacement in February 2023. Gracia was sacked in May 2023. Sam Allardyce took over, aiming to avoid relegation, but he was unable to prevent Leeds from dropping back into the Championship on the final day of the season.

See also

• Doing a Leeds
• List of Leeds United F.C. records and statistics

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