Leeds United's 10 Greatest Players Of All Time

Leeds United is one of the English Football Clubs with relatively decent success since the club was formed in 1919. The majority of the club’s success happened under Don Revie’s 1960s and 1970s teams.

When playing at home, Leeds United wears an all-white kit. The White Rose of York, an emblem of Yorkshire, is incorporated on the club’s badge. The club’s theme song is an original piece dubbed “Marching on Together,” which was issued in 1972 to celebrate the club’s run to the FA Cup Final.

The West Yorkshire’s club plays their home game at Elland Road and their recent success was the league title they won in 1992.

Who Are Leeds United’s Greatest Players Of All Time?

As a football enthusiast, it’s always a difficult task in putting together any club’s football great, because it’s always influenced by people’s favoritism from a likeness standpoint or simply by the category of an era the player plays in.

However, in all honesty, a player’s cult status is, without doubt, a reflection of his impact, achievements, leadership skill, and quality as a player for whatever club they don their shirt.

Nigel Martyn (1996-2003)

Leeds United's 10 Greatest Players Of All Time
Leeds United goalkeeper Nigel Martyn in action during the FA Carling Premiership match between Everton and Leeds United at Goodison Park on October 24, 1999 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

If there was any goalkeeper that was first signed for a million pounds it was Martyn. He moved from Bristol Rovers to Crystal Palace in 1989 having made over 100 appearances for Rovers.

In the summer of 1996, he became Leeds United’s new goalkeeper in what was then a record signing for a goalkeeper in a deal worth £2.25m. He hit the ground running immediately for the Whites as part of George Graham’s Leeds revolutionary side.

Martyn’s consistency in between the stick was evident that he went on to win the club’s Best Player of the Year and also helped The Peacocks finish third in the Premiership, a place in the Champions League, and a semi-finals ticket in the UEFA Cup in the 1999 and 2002.

Jack Charlton (1952-1973)

Leeds United's 10 Greatest Players Of All Time

Big Jack as is mostly called by the fans was part of Leed’s team that dazzled the fans in the 70s with their swashbuckling attacking football.

The Ashington born was referred to as the best header of the ball and excellent tackler in England. He formed a telepathic partnership alongside Norman Hunter who both wracked havoc with their qualities in the league.

Charlton’s longevity and success were well renowned at Elland Road, where he won the Player of the Year in 1967 featuring in 773 games with a commendable 96 goals and five majors trophies across his stay with Leeds before he retired to become Middlesbrough’s coach.

Allan Clarke (1969-1978)

If Clarke’s nickname “Sniffer” were anything to go by, therefore you will agree with his inclusion on this list as one of Leeds United’s Greatest players, for his sheer quality and uncanny eye for goals.

He arrived for a bargain from Leicester City and he undoubtedly repaid Leed’s fans with his goals. Scoring 151 goals in 364 appearances for the Whites, including one of the club’s most important goals in the 1972 FA Cup and Fairs Cup finals.

The Sniffer’s scoring prowess alongside Jones and Lorimer was truly renowned and legendary for how the trio terrorized defenders with their goal-scoring skill sets.

Clarke didn’t only fire from all cylinders for the Whites alone, he also did for the Three Lions despite, having 19 caps to his belt.

Johnny Giles (1963-1975)

Leeds United's 10 Greatest Players Of All Time

Giles is arguably the best midfielder of his era for how complete he was as a player, in terms of his qualities in dispatching penalties and orchestrating play from the middle of the pack.

Throughout his 12-season stay at Elland Road, he was truly lethal in front of goal despite being a midfielder, scoring 115 goals in 525 matches for the Whites. However, he couldn’t replicate his goal-scoring form for the Irish national team, having just 5 goals in 59 caps.

Leeds United’s greatest list won’t be complete without including the midfield general.

Norman Hunter (1961-1976)

 

In the 1970s, Don Revie’s renowned Leeds United team starred Norman Hunter as a key player. Hunter, who joined Leeds United at the age of 16, was one of the young players who helped Don Revie in turning around the club’s fortunes.

Between 1964 and 1975, Leeds United evolved from a Second Division team that was battling to compete into a force in both England and Europe.

Hunter’s quality and bone-crunching tackling as a defender can be likened to a modern-day Sergio Ramos kind of brutality in tackling the opposition. His daftness defensive-wise and how he marshaled his defense line are phenomenal

Bites Ye Legs” as his name suggest, was well renowned for his defensive know-how across Europe despite not being a regular starter for the Three Lion. However, he did show how good he was in the shirt of the Whites throughout his illustrious career with the club.

Hunter made 724 appearances and scored 21 goals for the Whites before moving to Bristol City in 1976, and retiring to become a commentator for radio Leeds.

Gordon Strachan (1989-1995)

Leeds United's 10 Greatest Players Of All Time
24 August 1991 – Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday – English Football Division One – Leeds – Gordon Strachan of Leeds. – (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside via Getty Images)

Gordon Strachan was a talented, dynamic player who was fearless of the game’s physical aspect. As a player, Strachan was regularly a pain to opponents.

Strachan was a prominent member of Leeds United and most importantly Scotland’s 1982 and 1986 World Cup campaigns. He teamed up with Leeds from Manchester United following his Cup-winners triumph in 1989 for £300,000.

The Scottish was so good that he was named the Footballer of the Year in 1991 and thereafter led the Whites to the Championship triumph in 1992. A great feat that credences his greatness as one of the finest midfielders in Britain’s football history.

Strachan retired with 50 caps for the Scottish national team and also featured in 234 games scoring 45 goals for Leeds United.

Eddie Gray (1965-1984)

Leeds United's 10 Greatest Players Of All Time

If dazzling the Whites fans with his amazing dribble around seven defenders before scoring against Burnley was one of the prerequisites to make it into this list, then Gray undoubtedly deserves his inclusion.

Gray was in the Leeds team which won the League Cup and the Fairs Cup double, scoring winning goals in both semi-finals, including a memorable individual goal against Brian Clough’s Derby County in the semi-final of the League Cup. The nippy forward punished Europe’s best defenders with his trickery ability that made fans look dumbfounded.

Gray’s stay at Elland Road only produced 68 goals in 579 caps. Those who saw him play can say he was a brilliant player who often made the Whites fans erupt with euphoria

Peter Lorimer (1962-1978, 1984-1985)

Leeds United's 10 Greatest Players Of All Time

Lorimer established himself in the Whites team in the 1965-66 campaign despite being the club’s youngest debutant at the age of 15, and two hundred and eighty-nine days old.

The skillful and industrious winger made 34 game appearances and scored 19 goals in the shirt of Leeds despite being a young boy, but his maturity as a player was never in doubt for the sheer composure and quality he possessed.

For those who saw Lorimer play, he was referred to as one of the hardest shot-shutter in the game, scoring 238 goals in 707 appearances for the Whites.

Some even christened him ‘Hot Shot’, ‘Thunder Boots’, or ‘Lash’ which were the favorite nickname amongst the fans.

John Charles (1947-1957, 1962)

Leeds United's 10 Greatest Players Of All Time
John Charles of Leeds United ties up his boots in the changing room (Photo by Don Morley/EMPICS via Getty Images)

The ‘Gentle Giant’ is arguably the greatest Leeds player outside the Revie’s era. He became a fan favorite at the Elland Road following his switch to the club at the age of 16.

He propelled Leeds to the First Division and played there for just one season, scoring 38 goals in 40 games to show he could compete with England’s best. Charles, though, was going to compete with the best on the continent as well after receiving a British record £65,000 fee in 1957.

Charles was truly renowned for his quality as a center forward and as a matter of fact, he was so good that no one could beat him in the air. Likewise, his one-on-one prowess, when faced with a goalkeeper, got him to score 157 goals.

The Welsh international did achieve commendable success with the Whites, including holding the goal-scoring record in a season for Leeds United with 42 league goals in 1953-54 as the youngest Welsh player.

Billy Bremner (1959-1976)

Bremner’s story was more like a rejected stone that becomes the cornerstone.

The diminutive midfielder was rejected by Arsenal and Chelsea for being too small, but ended up joining Leeds and became the club’s most successful captain.

He was the fiery midfield dynamo who propelled Leeds United through their most prosperous years when Don Revie was their manager. He became a Leeds United legend and one of the finest midfielders in the history of the game thanks to his incomparable accuracy in passing, endurance, and talent.

He led the Whites to 2 League Championships, an FA Cup, a League Cup Trophy, and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cup triumphs and also won a personal award for himself in 1970 as the ‘Best Footballer of the Year.

Stirling born to date is still referred to as the greatest player in the club’s history for his leadership, never say die attitude, passing, and eye for goal quality.

The South East corner of Leeds United’s Elland Road is graced with a memorial statue honoring Bremner.

 

 

FAQ

 

Has Leeds ever won a Premier League?

YES!

Leeds United has won 3 English league titles, 1 FA Cup,1 League Cup, 2 Charity/Community Shields, and 2 Inter-Cities Fairs Cups. The majority of the honors were won under the management of Don Revie in the 1960s and 1970s.

Which Leeds United player has the most England caps?

  • Jack Charlton, 35 Caps
  • Norman Hunter, 28 Caps
  • Trevor Cherry, 27 Caps
  • Kalvin Phillips, 23 Caps
  • Nigel Martyn, 20 Caps
  • Terry Cooper, 20 Caps
  • Danny Mills, 19 Caps

Who made the most appearances for Leeds United?

Grenville Hair! only ever played for Leeds United & made nearly 500 appearances for the club in a career spanning 16 years.

Who are Leeds’s biggest rivals?

Manchester United

What is Leeds United Biggest win?

Leeds Biggest Wins: 10:0

1 Sep 17, 1969, 10:0
2 Oct 3, 1967, 0:9
3 Mar 4, 1972 7:0
4 Oct 17, 1967 7:0

What is Leeds famous for?

Leeds is well known for being the location where carbonated water was invented in the 1760s. Today, Leeds is known for its many shopping arcades, such as Kirkgate Market.

What is Leeds United Biggest Loss?

Record League defeat: 1-8 v Stoke City

Which is the best area to live in Leeds?

  • Horsforth. Consistently rated as one of the best places to live in Leeds is the well-connected suburb of Horsforth where we’re soon to be building our Horsforth
  • Grange development.
  • Chapel Allerton.
  • Roundhay.
  • Leeds Waterfront.
  • Headingley.
  • Alwoodley.
  • Bramhope.
  • Otley.

How many times has Leeds won the top division?

3 TIMES

Leeds United has won the League Championship three times, four Second Division titles, the FA Cup once, the EFL Cup once, the Charity Shield twice and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup twice.

 

 

 

 

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