Leeds United has had many outstanding players over the years, including some of its current best, such as Ethan Ampadu, Pascal Struijk, and Willy Gnonto.
Some players have even become legends as a result of their exploits in a white shirt, but who are the best players to have ever represented the club?
Howard Wilkinson’s first significant foray into the transfer market rivals that of any manager in Leeds’ history, including the legendary Don Revie. Strachan’s purchase from Manchester United was a significant statement of purpose for the Whites at the time.
Strachan led Leeds to victory in Division Two during his first full season. He won the Footballer of the Year award in his second season. In his third season, he won Leeds’ final Division One title, cementing his place as one of the club’s finest players. He appeared 234 times for the club, scoring 45 goals in the process.
He was used as a right winger or attacking midfielder, and he was a soothing and controlling presence on the field for the team. Even in his 30s, he was able to control and direct games in West Yorkshire. Strachan is the last captain to win the top flight for Leeds in 1992, and as a result, he has become a legend.
Clarke is another vital member of Revie’s all-conquering team, having spent nine years in West Yorkshire. Clarke scored 26 goals in his debut season before cementing his place in club history with goals against Juventus and Arsenal to help Leeds win the Inter-Cities Fairs and FA Cup in 1971/72, but the club’s pursuit of a ‘double’ fell short.
The centre-forward scored 13 goals as the club’s leading scorer in the 1973/74 championship season, which included
a 29-game unbeaten streak. Clarke was also the subject of a contentious decision in Leeds’ 2-0 European Cup Final
defeat in Paris, where he was fouled by Franz Beckenbauer.
After that, Revie’s team began to disband, but Clarke remained a Leeds player until 1978, scoring 23 more goals for
the club, bringing his total for the club to 151 goals in 366 appearances, cementing his place as one of their greatest
and most famous players ever, and earning the nickname’sniffer’ for his poaching ability.
