Leeds United F.C. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Leeds United

Full name	Leeds United Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Whites
Founded	17 October 1919; 105 years ago (17 October 1919)
Ground	Elland Road
Ground Capacity	37,608
Owner	49ers Enterprises
Chairman	Paraag Marathe
Manager	Daniel Farke
League	Championship
2018–19	Championship, 3rd of 24
Home colours Away colours

Leeds United Football Club is a professional football team from Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the Championship, which is the second-highest league in English football. Their home stadium is Elland Road.

Leeds United has won many important trophies. They have won the League Championship three times, the Second Division four times, the FA Cup once, and the League Cup once. They also won the Charity Shield twice and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup twice. The team's best time was in the 1960s and 1970s under manager Don Revie. During this period, they won two League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups.

The club has strong rivalries with Manchester United and Chelsea. Leeds United's traditional kit colours are white shirts, white shorts, and white socks. Their badge features the White Rose of York, a symbol of Yorkshire.

Club History: How Leeds United Started

Early Days: Before Leeds United

Blue plaque celebrating the start of Leeds United in 1919

Leeds United's first team was called Leeds City, formed in 1904. In 1919, Leeds City was closed down by the English Football League because of issues with player payments.

After this, Leeds United was formed at Salem Chapel, Leeds in 1919. They were invited to join the Midland League. Yorkshire Amateurs bought the Elland Road stadium and then sold it to Leeds United for £250.

First Steps: 1920 to 1960

The first Leeds United team at the start of the 1920–21 season

On 31 May 1920, Leeds United joined the Football League. They won the Second Division title in the 1923–24 season and were promoted to the First Division. However, they struggled to stay there and were relegated in 1926–27.

After World War II, in the 1946–47 season, Leeds was relegated again. They stayed in the Second Division until 1955–56, when they were promoted again, thanks to star player John Charles. Charles later left for Juventus for a world record fee of £65,000. Without him, Leeds was relegated back to the Second Division in the 1959–60 season.

The Golden Era: Don Revie (1961–1974)

Statue of Don Revie outside Elland Road

In March 1961, former player Don Revie became manager. He changed the team's kit to all-white, like Real Madrid. Leeds won promotion to the First Division in 1963–64.

In the 1964–65 season, Leeds finished second in the league, just behind rivals Manchester United. They also reached the FA Cup final, losing to Liverpool. The 1966–67 season saw them reach the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, where they lost.

First Major Trophies

The 1967–68 season was a big one for Leeds. They won their first major trophy, the League Cup, beating Arsenal 1–0 in the final. They also won their first European trophy, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, by beating Hungarian club Ferencváros.

Revie then focused on winning the league. In the 1968–69 season, Leeds won the First Division title! They set many records, including the most points and fewest defeats. They also had an amazing 34-match unbeaten run.

Challenging for More Titles

In 1969–70, Leeds tried to win three major trophies (the treble). They finished second in the league, lost the 1970 FA Cup final to Chelsea, and were knocked out of the European Cup by Celtic.

In 1970–71, Leeds finished second in the league again. They won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup for the second time, beating Juventus. In 1971–72, Leeds won the FA Cup, beating Arsenal 1–0.

The 1972–73 season saw Leeds almost win the treble again. They finished third in the league, lost the 1973 FA Cup final to Sunderland, and reached the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup. They lost to AC Milan in a game with some controversial referee decisions.

In the 1973–74 season, Leeds won the First Division title again! After this success, Revie left to manage the England national team.

Revie's Amazing Legacy

During his 13 years, Don Revie led Leeds to two First Division titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups, one Second Division title, and one Charity Shield. His team was known for being one of the best in football history.

After Revie: 1974 to 1988

After Revie left, Brian Clough became manager, but only for 44 days. He was replaced by Jimmy Armfield. Armfield led Leeds to the final of the 1974–75 European Cup, where they lost to Bayern Munich in a controversial match.

Leeds struggled in the following years. Managers changed often, and the team was relegated to the Second Division at the end of 1981–82. Former players like Eddie Gray and Billy Bremner tried to bring them back up, but it was difficult.

Back to the Top: 1988 to 2002

In October 1988, Howard Wilkinson became manager. He signed Gordon Strachan, who helped Leeds win the Second Division in 1989–90 and get promoted back to the First Division.

Winning the Premier League

In the 1991–92 season, Leeds became champions of England for the third time! This was a huge achievement. After this, the new Premier League was formed, and Leeds was one of its founding members.

However, the 1992–93 season was tough. Leeds finished 17th, barely avoiding relegation. Wilkinson left in 1996.

New Managers and European Adventures

George Graham took over and helped young players develop. By the end of the 1997–98 season, Leeds qualified for the UEFA Cup. In 1998, Graham left, and assistant manager David O'Leary took charge.

Under O'Leary, Leeds always finished in the top five of the Premier League. They also had exciting runs to the semi-finals of both the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

Tough Times: Financial Struggles and Relegation (2002–2010)

The club faced big financial problems. They had borrowed a lot of money, hoping to earn more from playing in the Champions League. But when they didn't qualify for the Champions League for two seasons, they couldn't repay the loans.

This led to selling key players like Rio Ferdinand for a lot of money. Managers like Terry Venables and Peter Reid tried to help, but the financial issues continued. In 2003–04, Leeds was relegated to the Championship.

Falling Further Down

After relegation, Kevin Blackwell became manager. The club had to sell its training ground and even the stadium to raise money. In 2005, Ken Bates bought the club. Leeds reached the Championship play-off final but lost.

In 2007, the club went into administration (a special financial process), which meant they lost 10 points and were officially relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time ever. They also started the next season with a 15-point deduction.

Despite these challenges, Leeds fought hard. Under manager Simon Grayson, they finally won promotion back to the Championship in the 2009–10 season. They also famously beat Manchester United in the FA Cup!

Back in the Championship: 2010–2020

Leeds spent many seasons in the Championship, trying to get back to the Premier League. There were many changes in ownership and managers during this time.

In 2012, a group called GFH Capital took over the club. Then, in 2014, Massimo Cellino became the owner. His time was full of changes, with many managers coming and going.

In 2017, Andrea Radrizzani bought the club completely. He brought back Leeds United Women under the club's ownership and bought back Elland Road stadium. In 2018, the 49ers Enterprises (from the American NFL team San Francisco 49ers) bought some shares in the club.

Bielsa's Impact

In June 2018, Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa was appointed. He became the highest-paid manager in the club's history. In his first season, Leeds played very well and almost got promoted automatically. They lost in the play-offs, but fans were excited about the team's style of play.

Return to the Premier League and Recent Seasons (2020–Present)

On 17 July 2020, after 16 years, Leeds United was finally promoted back to the Premier League! They won the Championship title, finishing ten points clear.

In their first season back in the Premier League, they finished in the top half of the table. However, the next season was tougher, and Bielsa was replaced by Jesse Marsch in February 2022. Marsch helped the club avoid relegation on the last day of the season.

In February 2023, Marsch was replaced by Javi Gracia, and then Sam Allardyce. Unfortunately, Leeds was relegated back to the Championship at the end of that season.

Currently, Daniel Farke is the manager, appointed in July 2023. In July 2023, 49ers Enterprises took full ownership of the club. Leeds missed out on promotion in their first season back in the Championship, losing the play-off final.

Team Colours

Leeds United's kit colours have changed over the years. For the first 15 years, their kit was blue and white stripes, similar to Huddersfield Town.

In 1934, they switched to blue and yellow halved shirts. In 1950, they wore yellow shirts with blue sleeves. Then in 1955, they changed to royal blue shirts with gold collars.

In 1961, Don Revie introduced the famous all-white strip, which the team still wears today.

Club Badge

Leeds United's first badge appeared in 1934 and featured the coat of arms of Leeds. After 1961, the all-white shirts sometimes had no badge at all.

Different Badge Designs

• Owl Badge (1964): An owl badge was added, based on the three owls from the city's coat of arms.
• "LUFC" Script (1971–1973): A badge with "LUFC" written diagonally.
• "Smiley" Badge (1973): An iconic badge made of the letters L and U in a bubble style. This was a very modern design for its time.
• Peacock Badge (1978–79): A badge with a stylised peacock, referring to the club's nickname, "The Peacocks."
• Rose and Ball Badge (1984–1998): This badge used blue, gold, and white colours, with the White Rose of York and a football.
• Shield Design (1998–Present): A more "European" shield design was introduced, keeping the white rose and "LUFC" written vertically. A football was added to the centre of the rose in 1999.

In 2018, a new badge design was shown but fans disliked it, so the club went back to the previous shield design. For the club's 100th anniversary in 2019, a special gold badge was used, featuring "LEEDS UNITED" and "100 YEARS."

Elland Road: Leeds United's Home Stadium

Elland Road, 2013

Leeds United has always played at Elland Road since the club started in 1919. It's an all-seater stadium in Beeston, Leeds, and is the 14th largest football stadium in England.

Elland Road was first used by Holbeck Rugby Club. One of Leeds' nicknames, The Peacocks, comes from the original name of Elland Road – 'The Old Peacock ground'. This name came from a nearby pub called The Old Peacock.

The stadium has been owned by the local council for most of its history, but the club bought it back in 2017. The East Stand is the largest part of the stadium, holding 17,000 fans. The Don Revie Stand, named after the famous manager, holds almost 7,000 fans.

Leeds United Supporters

Leeds United fans are known for their strong support. Former managers have praised them, saying they are "fantastic" and "will follow them everywhere."

Leeds supporters often sing their signature song, "Marching on Together", before and during matches. They also sing "We Are The Champions, Champions of Europe," remembering the 1975 European Cup Final.

Famous Leeds supporters include actors Russell Crowe and Matthew Lewis, comedian Jon Richardson, and boxer Josh Warrington.

Leeds United fans have their own salute. The club is 10th in all-time average attendance figures for English football leagues. There are also fan groups for different communities, like Marching Out Together for LGBT fans and Punjabi Whites for Sikh supporters.

Club Rivalries

Main Rivals: Manchester United

Leeds United's main rivals are Manchester United. This rivalry goes back a long way, like the historic Wars of the Roses between Yorkshire and Lancashire. On the football pitch, the rivalry became very strong in the 1960s with managers Don Revie and Matt Busby.

Games between Leeds and Manchester United are known for being very intense. Players like Johnny Giles, Gordon Strachan, and Eric Cantona have played for both clubs.

Other Rivalries: Chelsea and Galatasaray

Chelsea is also considered a rival, especially after the tough 1970 FA Cup final between the two teams. Games between Leeds and Chelsea were often very competitive in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Leeds United also has a strong dislike for the Turkish club Galatasaray. This is because of a tragic event in April 2000, when two Leeds supporters died before a UEFA Cup semi-final match in Istanbul.

Club Music

The song 'Leeds United' was released in April 1972 when the team reached the FA Cup final. The B-side of that record, 'Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!' (also known as Marching on Together), has become the club's official anthem. Fans sing it regularly at matches.

Club Records

Chart of yearly performance of Leeds in the English Football League system.

• Most Goals Scored: Peter Lorimer is the club's all-time top scorer with 238 goals. He is also the youngest player to ever play for the club.
• Most Goals in a Season: John Charles scored 43 goals in the 1953–54 season.
• Fastest Goal: Jermaine Wright scored after just ten seconds against Burnley in November 2004.
• Record Transfer Fee Paid: Around £30 million for Georginio Rutter.
• Record Transfer Fee Received: Approximately £60 million from Barcelona for Raphinha.
• Record Home Attendance: 57,892 against Sunderland on 15 March 1967.
• Highest League Finish: First place in the First Division in 1968–69, 1973–74, and 1991–92.
• Lowest League Finish: Fifth place in League One in 2007–08. This was their first time in the third level of English football.
• Longest Unbeaten Run: 34 games between October 1968 and August 1969.
• Longest Winning Streak: Nine consecutive victories, achieved twice (in 1931 and 2024).

Current Players

First-team squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Illan Meslier 2 DF Jayden Bogle 3 DF Junior Firpo 4 MF Ethan Ampadu (captain) 5 DF Pascal Struijk 6 DF Joe Rodon 7 MF Daniel James 8 MF Joe Rothwell (on loan from Bournemouth) 9 FW Patrick Bamford 10 FW Joël Piroe 11 MF Brenden Aaronson 14 MF Manor Solomon (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur) 17 FW Largie Ramazani

No. Position Player 19 FW Mateo Joseph 21 GK Alex Cairns 22 MF Ao Tanaka 23 MF Josuha Guilavogui 25 DF Sam Byram 26 GK Karl Darlow 29 FW Wilfried Gnonto 30 FW Joe Gelhardt 33 DF Isaac Schmidt 39 DF Maximilian Wöber 42 MF Sam Chambers 44 MF Ilia Gruev 50 MF Charlie Crew

Players on Loan to Other Clubs

No. Position Player MF Jack Harrison (at Everton) MF Sam Greenwood (at Preston North End)

No. Position Player DF Rasmus Kristensen (at Eintracht Frankfurt)

Club Management

First-team Staff

Updated to match played 05 July 2023
Source: Leeds United Official Website

Medical Team

Updated to match played 05 July 2023
Source: Leeds United and Yorkshire Evening Post

Scouting and Recruitment Team

Updated to match played 05 July 2023
Source: Leeds United and Yorkshire Evening Post

Owners and Directors

Updated to match played 21 July 2023
Source: Leeds United Official Website

Managers of Leeds United

The current manager, Daniel Farke, is the 41st permanent manager of Leeds United. The most successful manager was Don Revie, who won many trophies during his 13 years at the club. He managed 740 games, more than anyone else.

Club Honours: Trophies Won

Domestic Competitions

League Titles

• First Division (top league)
  • Winners: 1968–69, 1973–74, 1991–92
  • Runners-up: 1964–65, 1965–66, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72
• Second Division / Championship (second league)
  • Winners: 1923–24, 1963–64, 1989–90, 2019–20
  • Runners-up: 1927–28, 1931–32, 1955–56
• League One (third league)
  • Runners-up: 2009–10

Cup Competitions

• FA Cup
  • Winners: 1971–72
  • Runners-up: 1964–65, 1969–70, 1972–73
• Football League Cup
  • Winners: 1967–68
  • Runners-up: 1995–96
• FA Charity Shield
  • Winners: 1969, 1992
  • Runners-up: 1974

European Competitions

• European Cup
  • Runners-up: 1974–75
• European Cup Winners' Cup
  • Runners-up: 1972–73
• Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
  • Winners: 1967–68, 1970–71
  • Runners-up: 1966–67
• Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Trophy play-off
  • Runners-up: 1971

See also

In Spanish: Leeds United Football Club para niños