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Leeds United Legends This is not intended as a definitive list of Leeds United legends, as the subjective nature of such a list means it is bound to fail. Rather it should be considered a list of great players (and managers) who have represented Leeds United in the past. (Current players are not included). Your favourite Leeds United player not on the list?
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John Charles was a Leeds United legend who had two spells with the club, either side of a successful spell with Juventus. He was equally adept at playing either centre-half or centre-forward, and was known for his sporting approach to the game - he was never cautioned or sent off during his career, earning him the nickname 'Gentle Giant'. Having played 297 games and scored 150 goals for Leeds, he was sold to Juventus, where he spent 5 hugely successful years - winning 3 Serie A titles - before returning to Leeds. He later played for Roma, Cardiff City and Hereford United. John Charles received a CBE for his services to football and a stand at Elland Road is named in his honour. There is also a street close to the stadium named John Charles Way. In 1997 he was voted the best foreign player to play in Serie A - ahead of the likes of Maradona, Zidane, Platini, Gullit and Van Basten.
Born into a footballing family, Charlton was on the verge of pursuing a career as a policeman when Leeds United offered him a trial. He signed as a professional in 1952 and within a year he was a fixture in the struggling second division side. The appointment of Don Revie transformed the team and they won promotion in 1964. With Don Revie in charge and Charlton marshalling the defense Leeds built a formidable side which included the likes of Bremner, Lorimer and Reaney. Over the next decade Charlton was key figure in the side that won the League, FA Cup, League Cup and Fairs Cup. He was also, of course, a member of England's 1966 World Cup winning team. Charlton retired in 1973 aged 38, having made 772 appearances for Leeds. He went on to club and international management and was particularly successful as manager of the Republic of Ireland.
As a player Revie was a deep lying centre-forward with Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United. He won six caps for England, was Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year in 1955 and won an FA Cup winners medal with Manchester City in 1956. As a manager he will be best remembered for his time with Leeds United. Revie was made player-manager in March 1961, with Leeds struggling in the second division. Within 3 years he led them back to the top flight, where they finished as runners-up in their first season and also reached the FA Cup final. Back in the top-flight he set about building the Leeds side that would be a dominant force in English football during the 70's. Revie guided Leeds to two League First titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and two Fairs Cups, before quitting to take the England job in 1974. He also took them to a European Cup final, and runners-up spot in the league on four occasions. Revie was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2004. The Kop at Leeds' Elland Road Elland Road Stadium is named in honour of this Leeds United Legend.
As captain of Leeds greatest ever team Billy Bremner is perhaps the greatest of all Leeds United legends. Bremner joined the club as a 15-year-old inside forward and was converted by Don Revie into a combative midfield general who epitomized Leeds never-say-die spirit. His trophies at Leeds included two League championships, an FA Cup, a League Cup and two Fairs Cups. But it could have been so much more. For all their brilliance, the Leeds side were serial underachievers, finishing as league runners-up on no fewer than 5 occasions during the 60's and early 70's. They also lost a European Cup final and 3 FA Cup finals during that period. Bremner left Leeds in 1976 and had spells at Hull City and Doncaster before retiring. He later returned to the club as manager, but was fired after an unsuccessful three year spell. Bremner is immortalized in a bronze statue at Elland Road. He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2004
Initially an inside forward, Hunter was converted into a central defender who spent 14 years at Leeds and formed a rock-solid defensive partnership with Jack Charlton. He was part of the Leeds side that won the Second Division championship in 1964, and went close to doing the "double" a year later. And he was a stalwart of the great Leeds side of the 70's, winning two league titles, the FA Cup, League Cup, and 2 Fairs Cups. As his nickname "Bites Yer Legs" suggests he was a no nonsense, tough tackling defender, but he could play a bit too, and was the first recipient of the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in 1973-74. He was also a member of England's 1966 World Cup winning squad. Hunter left Leeds in 1976, and later played for Bristol City and Barnsley. After retiring he had a, mostly unsuccessful, management career including a spell as a coach back at Leeds.
The diminutive Collins stood just 5'3" tall, but was a strong, hard-working midfield player who enjoyed successful spells at Celtic and Everton before joining Leeds. In his first season he helped the club avoid relegation to the old Third Division and two years later captained the team to the Second Division championship. The following season the club narrowly missed out on a League and Cup double, and Collins was voted Footballer Of The Year. In 1966, during a Fairs Cup tie with Torino, Collins suffered a horrific injury, breaking his femur. It all but ended his Leeds career. He left in 1967 and had spells at Bury and Morton, as well as in Australia, before retiring.
An attacking midfielder renowned for his fierce shooting, Lorimer made his league debut in 1962 at just 15 years of age. However, he would have to wait until 1966 to become a regular in the side, at the still tender age of 19. He won the first of his trophies in 1968 when Leeds lifted the League Cup and Fairs Cup, with Lorimer contributing 30 goals. And he featured prominently as they clinched their first League championship in 1969. Leeds United won a second Fairs Cup in 1971 and then the FA Cup in 1972, with Lorimer picking up winner's medals in both. A second league title was won in 1974 and there was a European Cup final, although Leeds lost 2-0 to Bayern Munich in controversial circumstances. Lorimer left in 1978 and played for York City before moving to Canada. He returned to the Leeds in 1985, now aged 37, and with the club in the second division. In his second spell he spent 3 seasons during which time confirmed his status as a Leeds United legend by breaking the club's goal-scoring record.
Manchester United fans may talk about "stealing" Eric Cantona from Leeds, but they neglect to mention that Don Revie pulled off an even bigger coup by enticing Johnny Giles from Old Trafford to Elland Road. The Irishman formed a formidable central midfield partnership with Billy Bremner which was one of the best ever seen in the English game. They were the fulcrum of the great Leeds side of the 70's and delivered two league titles, two Fairs Cups, the FA Cup and the League Cup in the space of five short years. It could have been so much more but this Leeds side was so often short on luck when it mattered most. Giles left for West Bromwich Albion in 1975 and later moved into management, notably with the Republic of Ireland and during two spells at West Brom.
A cultured winger who joined Leeds as a 16 year old and spent almost 20 years at the club. Gray was an integral part of the great Don Revie side, winning the League Cup and Fairs Cup in 1968, and the league title a year later. Unfortunately, he suffered frequent injuries during his career. He missed half of the 1971 season when Leeds again won the Fairs Cup. He won the FA Cup in 1972, but missed out on a second championship medal in 1974, again through injury. As the Revie side started to break up, Gray stayed, and converted to left back in order to prolong his career. He was in the side relegated in 1982, and shortly after was appointed player/manager. He spent 3 years in the role but quit after failing to secure promotion. Gray later returned to Leeds in 1989, and served the club in various roles, including caretaker manager.
A tough and uncompromising centre forward, Jones was the muscle in a fearsome strike partnership with Allan Clarke. Joining from Sheffield United in 1967, Leeds won the League Cup and Fairs Cup in his first season (although Jones was cup-tied for the League Cup games). The following year Revie signed Clarke from Leicester City and the two immediately clicked. Leeds won the Fairs Cup again in 1971 and the FA Cup in '72, with Jones suffering a dislocated elbow in delivering the cross from which Clarke scored the winning goal. In 1974 Jones scored 14 goals as Leeds won the title but he was starting to have problems with his knees and was forced to retire a year later.
Allan Clarke Position: Striker Leeds United Career: 1969-1978 Appearances:364 Goals:151 Arguably the best finisher ever to play for Leeds, "Sniffer" signed from Leicester City in 1969, the fee of 165 000 pounds a record at the time. Clarke formed a prolific strike partnership with Mick Jones - Jones providing the muscle, Clarke the guile - during a golden era for the club, when they won the league, FA Cup and Fairs Cup. He scored an impressive 151 goals in 364 appearances for Leeds before ending his career with Barnsley. He later went into management and had an unsuccessful spell as Leeds boss from 1980 to 1982, during which time the club were relegated. Want to add a Leeds United player to our Legends list?If your favourite Leeds United player hasn't made it onto our list, he's your chance to make your case for inclusion. More Leeds United stuff here;
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John Charles
Jack Charlton
Don Revie
Billy Bremner
Norman Hunter
Bobby Collins
Peter Lorimer
Johnny Giles
Eddie Gray
Mick Jones
