List of Leeds United F.C. players facts for kids

This article is all about some of the most famous and important footballers who have played for Leeds United. These are players who usually played 100 or more official matches for the club. We've also included some special players who played fewer games but were super important to the club's history, like Don Revie, who later became a legendary manager!

The players are listed by when they first signed a professional contract with Leeds. The numbers for games played and goals scored are only for official first-team matches. This means friendly games or matches played during wartime are not counted. Even if a player came on as a substitute, their appearance counts!

Leeds United's Star Players

Leeds United has a long and exciting history, with many amazing players wearing the white shirt. Here are some of the most famous and influential players who have left their mark on the club, from its early days to more recent times. These players are remembered for their skill, dedication, and the big impact they had on the team.

• Jim Baker (1920–1926): An early star, Jim Baker was the very first captain of Leeds United. He played 208 games and scored 2 goals.
• Ernie Hart (1920–1936): A defender who played an incredible 472 games for Leeds, scoring 15 goals. He was a true club legend for many years.
• Willis Edwards (1925–1943): Another long-serving defender, Willis played 444 games and scored 6 goals.
• Tom Jennings (1925–1931): A fantastic goalscorer, Tom netted 117 goals in 174 games!
• Charlie Keetley (1927–1934): Another top striker, Charlie scored 110 goals in 169 matches.
• John Charles (1947–1957, 1962): Known as "The Gentle Giant," John Charles was one of the greatest players ever to play for Leeds. He could play as a defender or a forward and scored an amazing 157 goals in 327 games.
• Jack Charlton (1952–1973): A World Cup winner with England, Jack Charlton was a rock in defence for Leeds. He played a massive 762 games and scored 95 goals.
• Billy Bremner (1959–1976): The heart and soul of the famous Leeds team of the 1960s and 70s, Billy Bremner was a brilliant midfielder and captain. He played 771 games and scored 115 goals.
• Norman Hunter (1961–1976): Nicknamed "Bites Yer Legs," Norman was a tough but fair defender who played 724 games and scored 21 goals.
• Paul Reaney (1961–1978): A reliable right-back, Paul played 745 games for Leeds.
• Peter Lorimer (1962–1978, 1983–1985): Known for his powerful shots, Peter Lorimer is Leeds United's all-time top goalscorer with 219 goals in 616 games.
• Eddie Gray (1965–1984): A winger with incredible dribbling skills, Eddie played 577 games and scored 68 goals.
• Allan Clarke (1969–1978): A clinical striker, Allan scored 151 goals in 364 games, including the winning goal in the 1972 FA Cup Final.
• David Batty (1987–1993, 1998–2004): A tough-tackling midfielder, David played 382 games for Leeds.
• Gary Speed (1988–1996): A talented midfielder who scored 57 goals in 311 games.
• Gordon Strachan (1989–1995): A Scottish midfielder who captained Leeds to the First Division title in 1992. He played 244 games and scored 45 goals.
• Gary McAllister (1990–1996): Another key midfielder from the 1992 title-winning team, Gary played 294 games and scored 45 goals.
• Gary Kelly (1991–2007): A loyal one-club man, Gary played 531 games at right-back for Leeds.
• Lucas Radebe (1994–2005): A popular South African defender and captain, Lucas played 262 games.
• Tony Yeboah (1995–1997): A Ghanaian striker famous for his amazing long-range goals. He scored 33 goals in 62 games.
• Harry Kewell (1995–2003): A talented Australian attacker who scored 63 goals in 242 games.
• Alan Smith (1997–2004): A versatile player who started as a striker and later played in midfield. He scored 56 goals in 228 games.
• Mark Viduka (2000–2004): An Australian striker who scored 72 goals in 166 games.
• James Milner (2002–2004): A young talent who started his career at Leeds, playing 54 games and scoring 5 goals.
• Jermaine Beckford (2006–2010): A prolific striker who scored 85 goals in 152 games, including a famous FA Cup winner against Manchester United.
• Robert Snodgrass (2008–2012): A Scottish winger known for his goals and assists, playing 189 games and scoring 41 goals.
• Luciano Becchio (2008–2013): An Argentine forward who scored 86 goals in 221 games.
• Liam Cooper (2014–present): The current club captain, Liam is a strong defender who has played over 260 games for Leeds.
• Kalvin Phillips (2014–2022): A local hero and England international midfielder who played 232 games and scored 14 goals.
• Stuart Dallas (2015–present): A versatile Northern Irish player who has played over 260 games in various positions.
• Pablo Hernández (2016–2021): A Spanish attacking midfielder known for his incredible skill and vision, scoring 36 goals in 175 games.
• Luke Ayling (2016–present): A popular and energetic right-back who has played over 250 games for Leeds.
• Mateusz Klich (2017–2023): A Polish midfielder who was key to Leeds' promotion back to the Premier League, playing 195 games and scoring 24 goals.
• Jack Harrison (2018–present): An English winger who has scored 34 goals in 206 games.
• Patrick Bamford (2018–present): A striker who has scored 51 goals in 151 games for Leeds.
• Illan Meslier (2019–present): A young French goalkeeper who has played over 120 games.

Player of the Year Awards

Every year, Leeds United players are recognized for their amazing performances! Here are some of the players who have won the "Player of the Year" award, chosen by fans, or other special awards. Players in bold won the main Player of the Year award more than once.

Club Captains

Jim Baker was the first ever captain of Leeds United and led the club to the 1923–24 second division championship.

The captain of a football team is a very important leader on the field. They help guide the team and often represent the club. Here's a list of the players who have had the honor of being captain for Leeds United.