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EspañolLEEDS UNITED A.F.C. MANAGERS
'Leeds United A.F.C. Managers'
The record of people past and present who have been the manager, or taken a position comparable to manager, for Leeds United.
:''For a season by season, decade by decade record of all competitions see Leeds United A.F.C. competitions record''
''Managers Success Rate is based on points scored out of maximum points available i.e. 3 points = win, 1 point = draw, 0 points = defeat. (Includes League, Cup & European first team fixtures.)''
''(Information in above table calculated from here[1])''
There is a gallery of all managers of Leeds United here from the creators of MightyLeeds.co.uk
A category for Leeds United managers here from the searchable Leeds United Wafll Gallery
Three Managers have won trophies during their tenure as Manager of Leeds United A.F.C. these are :
Arthur Fairclough - Don Revie - Howard Wilkinson
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Arthur Fairclough joined Leeds from Huddersfield Town. He was recruited by the new Leeds chairman Hilton Crowther who had purchased the club before their first season in The Football League. Fairclough had a good record behind him having won the FA Cup for Barnsley in 1910, and had also been with Crowther when he was chairman at Huddersfield Town. When Crowther was bought out of Huddersfield he turned his complete attentions to Leeds United and knowing Arthur's pedigree felt he was the best man for the job. Fairclough ensured Leeds performed well in their first season for a newly established club finishing mid-table, and following two seasons of finishing in the top half of the table Leeds were promoted as League Champions. Fairclough's skills however didn't prove good enough in the First Division and after two seasons Leeds were relegated and Fairclough left his managerial position.
★ 1923-24
★
★ Division 2 - Champions
1920-21 - 1921-22 - 1922-23 - 1923-24 - 1924-25 - 1925-26 - 1926-27
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Having secured their election to the Second Division, Leeds had to assemble a team able to compete. Most of the players signed were for little or nothing. The team was built around Leeds' first captain, Jim Baker, whose brother Alf played for Arsenal and England, while younger brother Aaron would later join him fleetingly at Elland Road.
Ironically their first game was away at Port Vale on 28 August 1920 and a crowd of 15,000 saw the home team victorious 2-0. Four days later, on 2 September 1920, Jim Baker led his side out against South Shields for Leeds' first Football League game at Elland Road. It appears that it was Len Armitage who scored Leeds’ first-ever goal, but in front of a 16,958 (£1,016 takings) the visitors spoiled the party by scoring two.
Despite the disappointment, 15,000 turned up on Saturday, 4 September to witness Leeds' first League victory. Leeds tasted the sweetness of victory, gaining some revenge for Leeds City as they beat Port Vale 3-1. Ellson scored a brace and Best the other.
Jim Baker, Billy Down and Bert Duffield were ever-present, while Jimmy Walton only missed one game. Robert Thompson led the goal-scorers with 11, but as his goals dried up, Fairclough forked out £1,750 for Tommy Howarth from Bristol City. In Leeds' last nine games he was the only scorer and finished with 6 goals in only 11 appearances. Ivan Sharpe and later Tommy Lamph, became the first and only former Leeds City players to play for Leeds United.
While never playing a League game for Leeds, Eugene O’Doherty is credited with scoring the first ever hat-trick for the club, when he appeared in some under-strength teams for the FA Cup qualifying rounds. Leeds had to play eight qualifying rounds to get to the First Round proper. These games clashed with Second Division games. After a 5-2 victory over Boothtown (a team from near Halifax) next opponents Leeds Steelworks forfeited home advantage and the FA allowed Leeds to field their second team, provided they then pulled out of the competition after the game. A crowd of 3,000 saw a 7-0 victory, with Walter Butler getting a hat-trick. Subsequently Robert Thompson obtained Leeds’ first League hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Notts County.
'Record:'
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With the emergence of Ernie Hart as a reliable stopper, Jim Baker was able to move to half back. Fairclough strengthened his team with experienced keeper Fred Whalley from Grimsby Town, half-back Harry Sherwin from Sunderland and veteran inside-forward Jim Moore from Southampton. Robert Thompson, Robert Musgrove, Jerry Best and Jack Lyon took the exit door.
After a flying start of five victories and two draws from their first seven fixtures, the next twelve produced only three wins and three draws. The goals again dried up and Jack Swann was bought from Huddersfield Town. Bill Poyntz, a close season signing as a reserve inside-forward from Llanelli, wrote himself into the history books with a wedding day hat-trick against Leicester City. He however also has the unwanted title of being the first-ever player to be sent off, which was the previous week at Bury.
Tommy Howarth (13) and Jack Swann (10) were the only players to manage double figures. Swann did also get his name on the score sheet in Leeds' 2-1 Round 1 defeat at Swindon Town in the FA Cup.
'Record:'
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Left-winger Joe Harris was a big summer signing from Bristol City and Jim Moore left for Brighton, but, although points were being accumulated, there was a lack of goals. This was rectified by the purchase of the classy Percy Whipp from Sunderland for £750, who immediately repaid the faith placed in him with a debut hat-trick and finished as leading goal-scorer with 16 goals.
Fairclough was building a team capable of pushing for promotion. He had two reliable keepers in Fred Whalley and Billy Down. Fred Duffield, Ernie Hart and Captain Jim Baker were models of consistency in defence and Percy Whipp added a new dimension to the strike force.
In the FA Cup Leeds survived the First Round with a 3-1 replay victory over Portsmouth at Elland Road, after holding them 0-0 at Fratton Park, but fell 3-1 in the Second Round at Bolton Wanderers.
'Record:'
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By 1923-24 Leeds had brought together a blend of players good enough to win the Second Division Title. Assistant Manager Dick Ray had moved on to Doncaster Rovers and was replaced by Bill Norman, who had managed Blackpool. In attack, Leeds now had the formidable trio of Jack Swann, Percy Whipp and Joe Richmond, with winger Joe Harris being their main supplier. However, Second Division title was built on a strong defence, built around Baker and Hart with Leeds only conceding 35 goals in the 42 games. A feat only matched by runners-up Bury.
Leeds however made a poor start to the season with only one victory in their first six games. However Leeds only lost twicein a 17-match sequence which included seven successive wins, putting Leeds on a roll. Billy Down also kept six consecutive clean sheets.
Leeds eventually won the League with three points above second placed Bury.
In the FA Cup, Stoke City were beaten 1-0 at Elland Road in the First Round with West Ham United also losing to the same score after a 1-1 away draw. However Leeds were eliminated in the Third Round as Aston Villa beat them 3-0.
Jack Swann (18) led the scorers with Percy Whipp (11) and the emerging Joe Richmond (15) also contributing well.
'Record:'
----
Leeds had been run on a tight budget and not unsurprisingly was unable to make any signings of note to for the higher division. Incoming players were mainly for the reserve team, while Jimmy Frew departed.
Leeds faced Sunderland at Elland Road for their first game in Division One, before a crowd of 33,722. Sunderland had finished third in the previous season and contained several top players. To hold them to a 1-1 draw was no mean feat. At the end of the month the visit of Champions and local rivals, Huddersfield Town, saw a new record crowd of 41,800 appreciate another 1-1 draw, with Jack Swann scoring the Leeds goal in each of the matches.
The team’s inconsistency was highlighted by a 6-1 thrashing at Arsenal, while five days later Aston Villa were thrashed 6-0 at Elland Road. Surprisingly, Arsenal finished 20th, two places below Leeds while Aston Villa finished 15th. Lack of success on the road was the main problem in Leeds' season, with only two victories, while only four games were lost at Elland Road. The victory was followed by only one win in thirteen games. This prompted the signings of Willis Edwards from Chesterfield, Tom Jennings from Raith Rovers and Russell Wainscoat from Middlesbrough all in March. All three played their part in winning three of the final five games.
In the FA Cup, Leeds made their usual early exit in the First Round, losing 3-0 away at Liverpool. Top scorer was Swann with 11 goals closely followed by and Whipp with 10 but there were no significant contributions from others.
'Record:'
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The season saw Leeds wave goodbye to several old stalwarts, Jim Baker, Bert Duffield, Jack Swann and Joe Harris. Jim Baker later became a Director of Leeds United
Right-Winger Bobby Turnbull was signed from Bradford Park Avenue. An England International, he was a class act but was sometimes let down by inconsistency. The change in the offside law saw him as Leeds’ trump card with his dazzling footwork and ability to cross at speed, and the games rained goals. Tom Jennings cashed in with a new Leeds goal-scoring record of 26 league goals. Only a 4-1 win in the final match at home to Tottenham Hotspur ensured Leeds’ safety 1 point above the relegation zone.
The FA Cup saw another First Round exit after a 5-1 thrashing at Middlesbrough.
'Record:'
----
Despite the injection of new faces, locals Harry Roberts and George Reed, and the purchase of winger Tom Mitchell from Newcastle United for £785, the slide could not be stopped. After a shocking run from November to April, when only one win was registered in 18 games, the outcome was inevitable. Even the big money signing of Scottish International John White from Hearts for a new record £5,600 failed to avert it. The only minor plus point was the visit of Newcastle United in the Christmas fixture saw a new crowd record of 48,490 established although Leeds lost that match 2-1.
Tom Jennings was the main source of goals, scoring 35 goals of the 69 league goals, and he broke his own club goal-scoring record. Goals were plentiful around this time as defences were still coming to terms with the new off-side law introduced the previous season. Nineteen of Jennings' goals came in only nine games, including three consecutive hat-tricks. Unfortunately the shaky defence had leaked 88 goals and their fight against relegation was in vain. Leeds duly accompanied bottom of the league West Bromwich Albion in relegation to the Second Division.
Progress was made in the FA Cup with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland at home in the 3rd Round. A crowd of 42,694 was on hand to witness the goal-less draw at home to Bolton Wanderers in the 4th Round, but Leeds' hopes were dashed as they were handed a 3-0 defeat in the replay.
Arthur Fairclough and his assistant Bill Norman accepted responsibility for the failure and resigned.
'Record:'
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Don was without question Leeds United's most successful manager on success rate purely on matches, progression in Cup competitions and on Trophies won. After a mediocre season in 1960-61 the Leeds board felt that a managerial change was required. Jack Taylor was asked to resign as manager and Revie was installed as player/manager in March 1961. Revie's first full season in charge wasn't the most successful with Leeds escaping relegation by three points. Leeds' famous white strip was introduced by Revie in the same season, and two seasons after Leeds were promoted as division champions to the top flight. Leeds first major trophies came in 1968 and over the following 6 years Leeds won five major domestic and European trophies. Revie left Leeds at the end 1973-74 season to manage England, leaving the Football League Championship as a parting gift.
★ 1963-64
★
★ Division 2 - Champions
★ 1967-68
★
★ Football League Cup - Winners
★
★ Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - Winners
★ 1968-69
★
★ Division 1 - Champions
★
★ FA Charity Shield - Winners
★ 1970-71
★
★ Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - Winners
★ 1971-72
★
★ FA Cup - Winners
★ 1973-74
★
★ Division 1 - Champions
1960-61 - 1961-62 - 1962-63 - 1963-64 - 1964-65 - 1965-66 - 1966-67 - 1967-68 - 1968-69 - 1969-70 - 1970-71 - 1971-72 - 1972-73 - 1973-74
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Don Revie took charge of Leeds United on 17 March 1961 but his first few matches in charge weren't exactly the most successful. Revie lost his first match in charge away at Portsmouth 3-1 and it took until his third match before Leeds managed to get any kind of result, with a 1-1 draw away at Luton Town. Don's first and only win this season was a 7-0 drubbing of Lincoln City at Elland Road but more defeats and draws followed, with the dismal streak only coming to a halt thanks to the end of the season.
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1961-62 was a season to forget. Don had yet to fully learn his trade and hadn't fully stamped his mark on the Leeds squad. There was little progress in the short term, however, and for many weeks in 1961-62 Leeds United seemed destined for the Third Division.
Bobby Collins was brought in from Everton towards the end of the season assuming the captaincy. He was a tiny man, but he brought a huge desire to win, one which had been missing from the Leeds side since Charles departed. Burnley reserve forward Ian Lawson and Sheffield United's Cliff Mason also arrived at Elland Road just prior to the transfer deadline and all three newcomers were in the side for the home game against Swansea. Collins opened the scoring in a vital 2-0 victory. It was a crucial result and, although Leeds lost 4-1 the following week at Southampton, set the team up for a phenomenal run in, during which they remained unbeaten.
They battled manfully through their remaining fixtures, building on a stout defence. Just four goals were conceded in eight matches following the Southampton reverse. Leeds still had much to do to survive with a point required away to Newcastle United to survive. An extraordinary performance saw Leeds triumph 3-0 to preserve their Second Division status. Skillful South African left winger Albert Johanneson gave an outstanding performance, opening the scoring and laying on the second goal.
In the FA Cup Leeds managed to get a draw against Derby County at home but the return leg saw Leeds lose 3-1 and the exited the competition. In the League cup Leeds beat Brentford 4-1 and Huddersfield Town 3-2 at Elland Road before receiving a bye to the 4th round. Leeds drew with Rotherham United at Millmoor requiring a replay which leeds lost 2-1 and went out of the competition.
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The successful battle for survival brought Reynolds, now chairman, and Revie new heart and they spent a record £53,000 to bring old favourite John Charles back from Juventus. The move was not a successful one and Charles played just 11 matches before returning to Italy, this time to Roma for £65,000. Leeds lost three of the first six games of 1962/63 and it looked like another season with not much to hope for.
Revie had had enough, and threw caution to the wind, drafting in youngsters. The move was a great success. On 8 September 1962, a leeds team containing Paul Reaney (17), Norman Hunter (18) and Gary Sprake (17) won 2-0 with goals from Rod Johnson (17) and Billy Bremner (19). Four games later, Scottish winger Peter Lorimer became the youngest player in the club's history at 15 years, 289 days old. Lorimer played only one more match that season and Johnson quickly faded, but Sprake, Reaney, Hunter and Bremner were there to stay, mainstays of the team for the next decade.
The big freeze that winter left Leeds without a game from 22 December until March 2, resulting in a run of 22 games in just 78 days. The youngsters emerged unaffected and Leeds stormed through the spring, with only a run of three defeats in May preventing promotion. Leeds missed out by just four points.
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Don Revie kicked off 1963-64 by tempting right winger Johnny Giles away from Cup winners Manchester United for a miserly £35,000. It was an astonishing signing, and many well known judges questioned Giles' sanity. He was leaving one of the biggest clubs in the country, now back winning honours after the disaster of the Munich air crash, for a move to a down at heel Second Division side. But Giles saw something in the urgency of Revie and the ambitions of Leeds United which excited him. Giles missed only two games that season. All round, it was a very settled side - Norman Hunter was the only ever present, but Gary Sprake, Paul Reaney, Billy Bremner, Bobby Collins and Giles missed only eight matches between them, while Willie Bell, Don Weston and Albert Johanneson all played more than 35 times. Such stability brought consistency and the defence was now almost flawless, conceding just 34 goals in the League. Leeds stayed unbeaten at Elland Road and lost just 3 games away in the league
The battle went down to the wire as Leeds, Preston and Sunderland pulled away from the pack, but in the end a run of eight wins and two draws at the end was crucial. Leeds brought in England centre forward Alan Peacock for £55,000 from Middlesbrough and he got 8 crucial strikes in the last 14 matches.
When Leeds beat Southampton 3-0 at home on 7 March, it was the first time they had scored more than two goals in any game since they had beat the same side 4-1 the previous October. The win eased the pressure which had built up and
promotion back to Division One was secured on 11 April with a 3-0 win at Swansea.
In the FA Cup Leeds put Cardiff City out 1-0 and managed a 1-1 draw at Elland Road with Everton before losing 2-0 in the replay away. In the League cup Leeds beat Mansfield Town with ease 5-1 with both Lawson and Johanneson scoring 2 each before beating Swansea Town 2-0. However Leeds' run ended with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City
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Leeds had never got anywhere near winning either the League Championship or the FA Cup, but they nearly won both in a single season as they took the English game by storm in 1964-65. They won their opening three matches, including an astonishing victory against reigning champions Liverpool, and were in the running for the title all year. The hatred they inspired outside the club by their harsh style of play only served to drive the team closer together. They enjoyed a run of 13 wins in 15 matches at one point and it was only a stumble in the run, with two defeats and a draw in the last five games, that let eventual champions Manchester United in. The 1-0 loss at Elland Road on 17 April against their main rivals was crucial, but even then victory in the final match away to Birmingham would have given Leeds an unlikely title. They fell three goals behind before fighting their way back to level. It was not enough however, and Manchester United took the title on goal average after winning their last game.
The form also sustained a marvelous FA Cup run. Leeds knocked out Southport, Everton, Shrewsbury Town and Crystal Palace before a late goal from Billy Bremner saw off Manchester United after a replay in the semi finals. Leeds managed to take the final into extra time, and the indomitable Bremner equalised against the run of play before Ian St John's diving header won the Cup for Liverpool.
In the League Cup Leeds knocked out Huddersfield Town before losing 3-2 to Aston Villa. One Leeds player received a trophy however with Bobby Collins, the captain, being voted Footballer of the Year.
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There was a new experience in 1965-66. Leeds entered European football for the first time in their history playing in the the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Revie left his squad unchanged for the new challenge, but a purchase was prompted when Collins broke a thigh in the second leg of their first European tie against Torino. It cost £30,000 to bring Huddersfield right winger Mike O'Grady in as a replacement, and the player brought fresh options up front, although the unique fire and determination of the skipper was sorely missed. However, Johnny Giles slotted into Collins' central midfield slot alongside Bremner as if born to it and an awesome new partnership was formed.
Leeds finished runners-up in the League again, although they always lagged behind pace setters Liverpool, finishing six points away.
Their first foray into Europe brought both controversy and glory, with some violent clashes and a run which took them to the last four knocking out such clubs as Valencia. Eventually, a far more experienced Real Zaragoza side beat them 3-1 in a semi final play off. In the FA Cup Leeds were disappointing compared to their previous seasons efforts. The competition started with a 6-0 mauling of Bury at Elland Road but Leeds lost 1-0 away to Chelsea in the following round. The League Cup was also disappointing losing 4-2 at home to West Bromwich Albion in the third round.
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The defensive unit of Sprake, Reaney, Charlton, Hunter and Bell was normally on duty, but the versatile Paul Madeley had become a useful addition to the squad, featuring in eight different shirts as injuries disrupted things. Peter Lorimer now regularly featured on the right flank with any one of Albert Johanneson, Terry Cooper or the gifted Eddie Gray on the left. This brought a more creative approach, but the lack of a regular goalscorer was noticeable. Giles was the leading marksman with just 12, and there was never a consistent combination up front. Rod Johnson, Mike O'Grady, Alan Peacock, Jim Storrie, Jimmy Greenhoff and Rod Belfitt all got their chances, but only Greenhoff managed more than 14 games.
They brushed aside Crystal Palace (3-0) and West Bromwich Albion (5-0) before a battling Sunderland took two replays to defeat. Manchester City were then beaten 1-0 before. The FA Cup semi finals clash in the last four with Chelsea was a torrid affair and Leeds lost out 1-0, having a late equaliser controversially disallowed. The League Cup run wasn't anything to shout about. A replay was required to beat Preston before West Ham dumped Leeds out of the competition 7-0 away in the 4th round.
The furthest they went was in the Fairs Cup beating Hibernian, Rangers and Dundee before reaching the two legged final against Dinamo Zagreb. They had to wait until the start of the following season to settle matters because the tie was postponed due to a fixture congestion. Leeds lost the first leg in Yugoslavia 2-0 and then an over cautious approach in the second leg condemned the side to a goalless draw and another runners up spot.
There was some good news however when Jack Charlton became the second Leeds player in three seasons to win the Footballer of the Year award for his performances at the heart of the defence.
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Revie reacted to the shortcomings in attack in October and laid out a club record £100,000 to buy Sheffield United's hard Mick Jones. He made a difference but only managed 8 goals in the League. However, it was his brave and unselfish running, together with an ability to hold the ball up long enough to bring others into play, which really counted. Terry Cooper and Eddie Gray were now regulars, working in tandem on the left, and their attacking skills added greatly to the side's creative dimension. Leeds however lost too many games away from Elland Road to mount a serious challenge in the League, but still repeated their fourth place finish, ending just five points behind champions Manchester City.
Disappointment also followed in the FA Cup after beating Derby County, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United along the way, Leeds again went down 1-0 in the semi final, this time to Everton. Their first major trophy came courtesy of the Football League Cup. Leeds conceded just a single goal in their run to the final and defences were on top again in a drab battle for the trophy against Arsenal. Leeds were understandably interested more in victory than contributing to a showpiece, and once Cooper had hammered home a long range goal after 20 minutes, United simply shut up shop but Leeds finally had something to show for their efforts.
Six months later, they won more silverware. The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final was once again held over until the start of the following season, with Leeds facing Ferencvárosi. Leeds looked to have missed their chance when they could only manage a solitary goal in the first match at Elland Road, but another great rearguard performance secured a goalless draw in the away leg and an aggregate 1-0 win, leaving Leeds United as the first British winners of the trophy.
This was Leeds' first and only double trophy winning season.
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Revie had told his players at the start of the season that they were going to win the League Championship and do so without losing a single match. They did in fact go nine games undefeated before reigning champions Manchester City ended their run at Maine Road with a 3-1 win. Four games later Leeds were humbled 5-1 away to Burnley, but after that the side strode through the next 28 matches undefeated. They conceded just 26 goals all season, and won the championship with a record haul of 67 points.
Don had guided the club from the brink of relegation to the Third Division when he took over as manager to become one of the biggest clubs in the country, feared and respected throughout the land. Their dominance in the 1968-69 league was frightening and when Leeds United were on their game there were few clubs who could live with them. It was Leeds' first 'League Championship' in their history.
In the FA Cup Leeds weren't so un-beatable having been beaten 3-1 by Sheffield Wednesday in the replay at Elland Road. The League Cup was just as unsuccessful and after beating Charlton Athletic and Bristol City, Leeds lost 2-1 away to Crystal Palace. The Inter Cities Fairs Cup was slightly more successful and Leeds even brushed aside Hannover 96 7-2 on aggregate, but the following round they were beaten 3-0 on aggregate by Újpest Dozsa and went out of the competition.
Leeds however finally after forty-nine years had their hands on the ultimate prize in English football.
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The season started in the usual style with the FA Community Shield between the League champions Leeds and FA Cup champions Manchester City. Leeds won the match 2-1 with goals from Eddie Gray and Jack Charlton.
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Don guided Leeds to their second victory in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The competition was re-structured after the Final into the UEFA Cup. UEFA arranged a special play-off match between the first and last winners and the competition to decide who kept the trophy. Leeds lost the match 2-1 to FC Barcelona on 22 September 1971.
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Don guided Leeds to their first and only 'FA Cup Victory' winning 1-0 over Arsenal, the same team they had beaten four years earlier in the League Cup Final by the same score. Allan Clarke scored the winning goal.
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Don guided Leeds to the final of the Cup Winners' Cup. The final however was marred by controversy. Leeds had goals and penalty appeals disallowed and AC Milan won the game 1-0. Later the Greek official, Christos Michas, was convicted of match fixing in a court in Greece relating to events in the final. He was sent to jail & fined by the Greek court and banned from football for life by UEFA. Leeds, however, were not granted the replay they requested and AC Milan were allowed to keep the title and trophy by UEFA.
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1973-74 was Don's last season as Leeds manager. He left at the end of the season to become England manager. He however left the club as 'League Champions'.
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Wilkinson’s appointment at Elland Road was something of a shock to all. Leeds were languishing at the bottom of the Second Division, while Sheffield Wednesday, his club at the time, were in the top half of the First Division. Wilkinson's pedigree was good. He had guided Wednesday to promotion in his first season there and had guided them to several quarter-finals and a semi-final in the English cups. Wilkinson joined Leeds nine matches into the 1988-89 season with Leeds 23rd out of 24 at the time. He stabilised the club eventually finishing in the top half of the League and the following season Leeds were promoted as champions. Leeds were impressive in their first season after promotion and the following season Wilkinson guided the club to their first League Championship in eighteen years, which was made all the sweeter to Leeds fans by their arch-rivals Manchester United finishing second. However after the Charity Shield Victory Wilkinson's team never really achieved much of note. They appeared in the League Cup final in 1996 losing badly and following a bad start to the 1996-97 season Wikinson's spell as Leeds manager came to an end, after a bitterly disappointing result at home to Manchester United.
★ 1989-90
★
★ Division 2 - Champions
★ 1991-92
★
★ Division 1 - Champions
★
★ FA Charity Shield - Winners
1988-89 - 1989-90 - 1990-91 - 1991-92 - 1992-93 - 1993-94 - 1994-95 - 1995-96 - 1996-97
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Wilko took charge nine league games into the season and instantly set about changing things. He won few friends by ordering the removal of all the mementoes of past glories from the rooms and corridors of Elland Road. However Wilko turned things round well from the 23rd positioned team he took over and the club finished 10th in the league.
He was soon into the transfer market, signing midfielder Andy Williams from Rotherham United for £170,000, while Mike Whitlow and Neil Parsley were picked up for £30,000 from Witton Albion. His liking and trust of his former players became apparent when he went to Bristol City and paid £50,000 to pick up ex-Wednesday striker Carl Shutt, with the promising Bob Taylor leaving in the opposite direction for £200,000. Shutty became an instant hero, scoring a hat-trick on debut in a 3-0 home win over Bournemouth. Mickey Adams was sold to Southampton for £250,000, Peter Swan went to Hull City for £200,000 and Jack Ashurst and Vince Brockie both departed for Doncaster Rovers for £10,000 and £15,000 respectively.
Three consecutive draws were achieved before the first League victory of his reign came, 2-1 over Hull City at Elland Road. League survival was the priority and a steady accumulation of points saw Leeds safe long before the season’s end. Wilko now started to look to the future and began his team-building in earnest with Gordon Strachan moving the correct way across the Pennines, from Manchester United for £300,000 and Spurs' Chris Fairclough came on loan to the end of the season when his move was made permanent for £500,000. Strachan, who was a model professional, proved to be a bargain and just as in the Revie years, a short red-headed Scot became an inspirational leader on which success was built.
In the FA Cup Leeds bead Brighton but were then knocked out of the cup by Nottingham Forest. The League Cup wasn't much better and although Wilko made progression to the third round certain with his first match in charge beating Peterborough United 3-1 (5-2 on aggregate) they were knocked out by Luton Town 2-0 at Elland Road. The Full Members Cup was more of the same. Leeds beat Shrewsbury Town 3-1 in the first round but were then knocked out by Millwall 2-0 away.
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The Season started with Wilko's spending spree leaving the club £2 million in debt. John Sheridan went to Nottingham Forest for £650,000, and Mark Aizlewood went to Bradford City for £200,000. The total of outgoing transfers was £1.5million but in-turn Wilko spent £3 million buying players who would be experienced and able to stand up to the rigours of a 46 match campaign. His first choice Vinnie Jones was bought for £600,000 who was immensely popular with fans, he was willing to sweat blood for the cause which made up for his lack of some of the game’s finer skills. John Hendrie came in for £500,000 from Newcastle United, Mel Sterland, for £600,000 from Glasgow Rangers, John McClelland cost £100,000 from Watford and Mickey Thomas, was £10,000 from Shrewsbury Town, while Jim Beglin, came on a free transfer from Liverpool.
The opening few games weren't a sign of things to come. Bobby Davison and Ian Baird gave Leeds a 2-1 lead after 30 minutes over Newcastle United but a dire defensive performance saw Leeds routed 5-2. The visit of Middlesbrough required a freak last minute own goal for Leeds to scrape home 2-1. A run of successive 1-1 draws followed at home to Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town and away at Stoke City before an 11 game undefeated run including 9 victories saw Leeds well up with the leaders, and a 2-0 win at Middlesbrough in early December saw Leeds proudly in first place.
Ian Baird left Leeds for Middlesbrough for £500,000 with Lee Chapman, coming in for £400,000 from Nottingham Forest in January. Imre Varadi cost £50,000 from Sheffield Wednesday and Chris Kamara was £150,000 from Stoke City with Noel Blake going in the other way for the same value. The arrival of Chapman and Kamara proved to be the final pieces in the promotion jigsaw for Leeds, as a three way battle developed between the three Uniteds of Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle for the two promotion places. Sheffield United were no opposition for Leeds at Easter being brushed aside 4-0. Goals from Mel Sterland and Gordon Strachan earned a 2-1 victory over Leicester City left Leeds in the top spot as a win at relegation-threatened Bournemouth would bring not only promotion but also the championship. Sheffield United, had Leicester City away, and Newcastle United, had Middlesbrough away.
The two latest Leeds recruits combined as Chris Kamara crossed for Lee Chapman to rise and head the winner, and Leeds had little difficulty in hanging on to their lead to win the 'championship' with 85 points. on goal difference from Sheffield United who won at Leicester City. Old Leeds boy Ian Baird scored twice to earn himself a championship medal, while ensuring both Middlesbrough’s safety from relegation and Newcastle United’s failure to gain promotion. To add irony, Leeds replaced Wilkinson's old club Sheffield Wednesday in the top division.
The cup's weren't anything to boast about. The FA Cup saw Leeds lose 1-0 at home to Ipswich Town, and the League Cup saw leeds go out 4-2 on aggregate to Oldham Athletic. The Full Members Cup was slightly more successful with Leeds putting out Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at home, Barnsley 2-1 away and Stoke City 5-4 on pens after a 2-2 draw away before losing to Aston Villa 2-0 at Villa Park.
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Wilkinson started by spending £2.5 million on three players in preparation for the return to the elite. He bought John Lukic back from Arsenal for Leeds' first £1 million transfer, shortly followed by Gary McAllister from Leicester City for the same price, while West Bromwich Albion defender Chris Whyte joined for £450,000. John Hendrie joined Middlesbrough for £550,000 and there were free transfers Brendan Ormsby to Doncaster Rovers, Chris O’Donnell to Exeter City, and Mickey Thomas to Stoke City.
The return to the top flight saw a first day away trip to Goodison Park to meet Everton . They roared onto the attack and were 3-0 up by half-time with goals from Chris Fairclough, Gary Speed and Imre Varadi, before a second half revival from Everton saw United hang on for a 3-2 victory. The first home game saw a visit from Manchester United, who were fortunate to hold on for a boring 0-0 draw.
Vinnie Jones left due to lack of first team chances for £650,000 to Sheffield United. He came straight back to Elland Road for Sheffield United's next match but Leeds won 2-0.
United could have been forgiven if they had settled for mid-table respectability after such a hard season but it was to their credit that they battled all the odds to finish fourth on 64 points, with some tremendous efforts. They even almost managed to get a draw out of Liverpool pulling it back to 5-4 after being 4-0 down at half-time
Leeds also had good cup runs. The FA Cup saw Leeds require a replay at Elland Road after a 1-1 score away to Barnsley eventually winning 4-0 before they met Arsenal. It was this meeting that finally convinced the F.A. that replay's were taking too long and too much out of the players. The decision was made for the following season to use Penalties as a decider. Leeds played Arsenal a totl of four times starting away from home. They drew 0-0, 1-1, and 0-0 before the fourth match finally separated the teams. Leeds were beaten 2-1 at Elland Road and the run ended. The League Cup saw Leeds brush aside Leicester City 3-1 on aggregate, Oldham Athletic 2-0 at home, QPR 3-0 away and Aston Villa 4-1 at home before they met old rivals Manchester United in a two legged semi-final. Unfortunately Leeds lost both, losing 2-1 at Old Trafford and 1-0 at Elland Road. In the Full Members Cup Leeds made their furthest progression. Leeds beat both Wolves and Derby County 2-1 before a Northern Alliance Semi-Final against Manchester City which they won 2-0. The Northern Alliance final was a two legged affair against Everton and Leeds managed a 3-3 draw at Elland Road, however the return leg wasn't successful and Leeds lost 3-1. Everton lost the National final 4-1 to Crystal Palace
Two Leeds players didn't finish the season with nothing however. Chapman finished the top scorer in the First Division with 21 league goals and Strachan was awarded Footballer of the Year.
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'League Champions'
----
'Charity Shield Winners & Youth Cup Winners'
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----
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League Cup Finalists
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This was Wilko's last season at Elland Road. At the start of the season Leeds had been overtaken by the Arcadia Group and they were looking to change things round. Leeds didn't start the season well and a particularly embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Elland Road to arch-rivals Manchester United doomed Wilko to his fate. Wilkinson had his contract terminated after only 5 matches (all league matches) of the new season.
1. Managers Ratings
★ Leeds United F.C. History at ozwhitelufc.net.au
★ Leeds United: The Full Story at Leedsfans.org.uk
★ Leeds United Managers at wafll.com
★ History of the Club at mightyleeds.co.uk
★ Arthur Fairclough at mightlyleeds.co.uk
★ Don Revie at mightlyleeds.co.uk
The record of people past and present who have been the manager, or taken a position comparable to manager, for Leeds United.
:''For a season by season, decade by decade record of all competitions see Leeds United A.F.C. competitions record''
| 1 Full Managerial Record 2 Managers to Bring Trophies to Elland Road :2.1 Arthur Fairclough 2.2 Don Revie 2.3 Howard Wilkinson 4 Notes 5 External Links __NOTOC__ |
Full Managerial Record
| 'From' | 'To' | 'Name' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'Success Rate' |
| 1919-10 | 1920-02 | Dick Ray | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 31 | 33.33% |
| 1920-02 | 1927-05 | Arthur Fairclough | 326 | 118 | 81 | 127 | 427 | 425 | 44.48% |
| 1927-07 | 1935-03 | Dick Ray | 342 | 143 | 72 | 127 | 622 | 552 | 48.83% |
| 1935-07 | 1947-05 | Billy Hampson | 231 | 74 | 51 | 106 | 334 | 418 | 39.39% |
| 1947-05 | 1948-04 | Willis Edwards | 47 | 13 | 8 | 26 | 60 | 87 | 33.33% |
| 1948-05 | 1953-04 | Major Frank Buckley | 224 | 87 | 63 | 74 | 324 | 306 | 48.21% |
| 1953-05 | 1958-06 | Raich Carter | 217 | 90 | 51 | 76 | 370 | 336 | 49.31% |
| 1958-06 | 1958-12 | Willis Edwards ''(Caretaker)'' | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 53.33% |
| 1958-12 | 1959-04 | Bill Lambton | 30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 40 | 57 | 41.11% |
| 1959-05 | 1961-03 | Jack Taylor | 81 | 27 | 17 | 37 | 136 | 169 | 40.33% |
| 1961-03 | 1974-07 | Don Revie | 740 | 394 | 197 | 149 | 1262 | 703 | 62.12% |
| 1974-07 | 1974-09 | Brian Clough | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 28.57% |
| 1974-10 | 1978-07 | Jimmy Armfield | 193 | 87 | 47 | 59 | 277 | 222 | 53.20% |
| 1978-08 | 1978-10 | Jock Stein | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 8 | 50.00% |
| 1978-10 | 1980-09 | Jimmy Adamson | 98 | 35 | 29 | 34 | 138 | 136 | 45.58% |
| 1980-10 | 1980-10 | David Merrington ''(Caretaker)'' | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 33.33% |
| 1980-10 | 1982-06 | Allan Clarke | 84 | 27 | 22 | 35 | 77 | 104 | 40.87% |
| 1982-07 | 1985-09 | Eddie Gray | 157 | 57 | 55 | 45 | 214 | 193 | 47.98% |
| 1985-10 | 1985-10 | Peter Gumby ''(Caretaker)'' | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 33.33% |
| 1985-10 | 1988-09 | Billy Bremner | 143 | 58 | 31 | 54 | 192 | 186 | 47.79% |
| 1988-09 | 1988-10 | Norman Hunter ''(Caretaker)'' | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 00.00% |
| 1988-10 | 1996-09 | Howard Wilkinson | 411 | 178 | 117 | 116 | 622 | 488 | 52.80% |
| 1996-09 | 1998-10 | George Graham | 95 | 37 | 27 | 31 | 118 | 99 | 48.42% |
| 1998-10 | 2002-06 | David O'Leary | 203 | 101 | 47 | 55 | 320 | 217 | 57.47% |
| 2002-07 | 2003-03 | Terry Venables | 42 | 16 | 7 | 19 | 53 | 52 | 43.65% |
| 2003-03 | 2003-11 | Peter Reid | 22 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 36 | 51 | 33.33% |
| 2003-11 | 2004-05 | Eddie Gray ''(Caretaker)'' | 26 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 30 | 51 | 32.05% |
| 2004-06 | 2006-09 | Kevin Blackwell | 115 | 44 | 37 | 34 | 128 | 117 | 48.99% |
| 2006-09 | 2006-10 | John Carver ''(Caretaker)'' | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 20.00% |
| 2006-10 | 2006-10 | David Geddis ''(Caretaker)'' | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 00.00% |
| 2006-10 | Present | Dennis Wise | 40 | 16 | 6 | 18 | 45 | 55 | 45.00% |
''Managers Success Rate is based on points scored out of maximum points available i.e. 3 points = win, 1 point = draw, 0 points = defeat. (Includes League, Cup & European first team fixtures.)''
''(Information in above table calculated from here[1])''
There is a gallery of all managers of Leeds United here from the creators of MightyLeeds.co.uk
A category for Leeds United managers here from the searchable Leeds United Wafll Gallery
Managers to Bring Trophies to Elland Road
Three Managers have won trophies during their tenure as Manager of Leeds United A.F.C. these are :
Arthur Fairclough - Don Revie - Howard Wilkinson
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Arthur Fairclough
Arthur Fairclough joined Leeds from Huddersfield Town. He was recruited by the new Leeds chairman Hilton Crowther who had purchased the club before their first season in The Football League. Fairclough had a good record behind him having won the FA Cup for Barnsley in 1910, and had also been with Crowther when he was chairman at Huddersfield Town. When Crowther was bought out of Huddersfield he turned his complete attentions to Leeds United and knowing Arthur's pedigree felt he was the best man for the job. Fairclough ensured Leeds performed well in their first season for a newly established club finishing mid-table, and following two seasons of finishing in the top half of the table Leeds were promoted as League Champions. Fairclough's skills however didn't prove good enough in the First Division and after two seasons Leeds were relegated and Fairclough left his managerial position.
Trophies
★ 1923-24
★
★ Division 2 - Champions
Seasons
1920-21 - 1921-22 - 1922-23 - 1923-24 - 1924-25 - 1925-26 - 1926-27
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1920-21
Having secured their election to the Second Division, Leeds had to assemble a team able to compete. Most of the players signed were for little or nothing. The team was built around Leeds' first captain, Jim Baker, whose brother Alf played for Arsenal and England, while younger brother Aaron would later join him fleetingly at Elland Road.
Ironically their first game was away at Port Vale on 28 August 1920 and a crowd of 15,000 saw the home team victorious 2-0. Four days later, on 2 September 1920, Jim Baker led his side out against South Shields for Leeds' first Football League game at Elland Road. It appears that it was Len Armitage who scored Leeds’ first-ever goal, but in front of a 16,958 (£1,016 takings) the visitors spoiled the party by scoring two.
Despite the disappointment, 15,000 turned up on Saturday, 4 September to witness Leeds' first League victory. Leeds tasted the sweetness of victory, gaining some revenge for Leeds City as they beat Port Vale 3-1. Ellson scored a brace and Best the other.
Jim Baker, Billy Down and Bert Duffield were ever-present, while Jimmy Walton only missed one game. Robert Thompson led the goal-scorers with 11, but as his goals dried up, Fairclough forked out £1,750 for Tommy Howarth from Bristol City. In Leeds' last nine games he was the only scorer and finished with 6 goals in only 11 appearances. Ivan Sharpe and later Tommy Lamph, became the first and only former Leeds City players to play for Leeds United.
While never playing a League game for Leeds, Eugene O’Doherty is credited with scoring the first ever hat-trick for the club, when he appeared in some under-strength teams for the FA Cup qualifying rounds. Leeds had to play eight qualifying rounds to get to the First Round proper. These games clashed with Second Division games. After a 5-2 victory over Boothtown (a team from near Halifax) next opponents Leeds Steelworks forfeited home advantage and the FA allowed Leeds to field their second team, provided they then pulled out of the competition after the game. A crowd of 3,000 saw a 7-0 victory, with Walter Butler getting a hat-trick. Subsequently Robert Thompson obtained Leeds’ first League hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Notts County.
'Record:'
| 'League' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | ||||
| 14th | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 40 | 45 | -5 | 38 | Preliminary | Robert Thompson | 12 | 14,967 |
----
1921-22
With the emergence of Ernie Hart as a reliable stopper, Jim Baker was able to move to half back. Fairclough strengthened his team with experienced keeper Fred Whalley from Grimsby Town, half-back Harry Sherwin from Sunderland and veteran inside-forward Jim Moore from Southampton. Robert Thompson, Robert Musgrove, Jerry Best and Jack Lyon took the exit door.
After a flying start of five victories and two draws from their first seven fixtures, the next twelve produced only three wins and three draws. The goals again dried up and Jack Swann was bought from Huddersfield Town. Bill Poyntz, a close season signing as a reserve inside-forward from Llanelli, wrote himself into the history books with a wedding day hat-trick against Leicester City. He however also has the unwanted title of being the first-ever player to be sent off, which was the previous week at Bury.
Tommy Howarth (13) and Jack Swann (10) were the only players to manage double figures. Swann did also get his name on the score sheet in Leeds' 2-1 Round 1 defeat at Swindon Town in the FA Cup.
'Record:'
| 'League' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | ||||
| 8th | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 48 | 38 | 10 | 45 | 1st Round | Tommy Howarth | 13 | 13,645 |
----
1922-23
Left-winger Joe Harris was a big summer signing from Bristol City and Jim Moore left for Brighton, but, although points were being accumulated, there was a lack of goals. This was rectified by the purchase of the classy Percy Whipp from Sunderland for £750, who immediately repaid the faith placed in him with a debut hat-trick and finished as leading goal-scorer with 16 goals.
Fairclough was building a team capable of pushing for promotion. He had two reliable keepers in Fred Whalley and Billy Down. Fred Duffield, Ernie Hart and Captain Jim Baker were models of consistency in defence and Percy Whipp added a new dimension to the strike force.
In the FA Cup Leeds survived the First Round with a 3-1 replay victory over Portsmouth at Elland Road, after holding them 0-0 at Fratton Park, but fell 3-1 in the Second Round at Bolton Wanderers.
'Record:'
| 'League' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | ||||
| 7th | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 43 | 36 | 7 | 47 | 2nd Round | Percy Whipp | 16 | 13,420 |
----
1923-24
By 1923-24 Leeds had brought together a blend of players good enough to win the Second Division Title. Assistant Manager Dick Ray had moved on to Doncaster Rovers and was replaced by Bill Norman, who had managed Blackpool. In attack, Leeds now had the formidable trio of Jack Swann, Percy Whipp and Joe Richmond, with winger Joe Harris being their main supplier. However, Second Division title was built on a strong defence, built around Baker and Hart with Leeds only conceding 35 goals in the 42 games. A feat only matched by runners-up Bury.
Leeds however made a poor start to the season with only one victory in their first six games. However Leeds only lost twicein a 17-match sequence which included seven successive wins, putting Leeds on a roll. Billy Down also kept six consecutive clean sheets.
Leeds eventually won the League with three points above second placed Bury.
In the FA Cup, Stoke City were beaten 1-0 at Elland Road in the First Round with West Ham United also losing to the same score after a 1-1 away draw. However Leeds were eliminated in the Third Round as Aston Villa beat them 3-0.
Jack Swann (18) led the scorers with Percy Whipp (11) and the emerging Joe Richmond (15) also contributing well.
'Record:'
| 'League' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | ||||
| '1st' | '42' | '21' | '12' | '9' | '61' | '35' | '26' | '54' | 3rd Round | Jack Swann | 18 | 16,313 |
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1924-25
Leeds had been run on a tight budget and not unsurprisingly was unable to make any signings of note to for the higher division. Incoming players were mainly for the reserve team, while Jimmy Frew departed.
Leeds faced Sunderland at Elland Road for their first game in Division One, before a crowd of 33,722. Sunderland had finished third in the previous season and contained several top players. To hold them to a 1-1 draw was no mean feat. At the end of the month the visit of Champions and local rivals, Huddersfield Town, saw a new record crowd of 41,800 appreciate another 1-1 draw, with Jack Swann scoring the Leeds goal in each of the matches.
The team’s inconsistency was highlighted by a 6-1 thrashing at Arsenal, while five days later Aston Villa were thrashed 6-0 at Elland Road. Surprisingly, Arsenal finished 20th, two places below Leeds while Aston Villa finished 15th. Lack of success on the road was the main problem in Leeds' season, with only two victories, while only four games were lost at Elland Road. The victory was followed by only one win in thirteen games. This prompted the signings of Willis Edwards from Chesterfield, Tom Jennings from Raith Rovers and Russell Wainscoat from Middlesbrough all in March. All three played their part in winning three of the final five games.
In the FA Cup, Leeds made their usual early exit in the First Round, losing 3-0 away at Liverpool. Top scorer was Swann with 11 goals closely followed by and Whipp with 10 but there were no significant contributions from others.
'Record:'
| 'League' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | ||||
| 18th | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 46 | 59 | -13 | 34 | 1st Round | Jack Swann | 11 | 23,001 |
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1925-26
The season saw Leeds wave goodbye to several old stalwarts, Jim Baker, Bert Duffield, Jack Swann and Joe Harris. Jim Baker later became a Director of Leeds United
Right-Winger Bobby Turnbull was signed from Bradford Park Avenue. An England International, he was a class act but was sometimes let down by inconsistency. The change in the offside law saw him as Leeds’ trump card with his dazzling footwork and ability to cross at speed, and the games rained goals. Tom Jennings cashed in with a new Leeds goal-scoring record of 26 league goals. Only a 4-1 win in the final match at home to Tottenham Hotspur ensured Leeds’ safety 1 point above the relegation zone.
The FA Cup saw another First Round exit after a 5-1 thrashing at Middlesbrough.
'Record:'
| 'League' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | ||||
| 19th | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 64 | 76 | -12 | 36 | 3rd Round | Tom Jennings | 26 | 21,382 |
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1926-27
Despite the injection of new faces, locals Harry Roberts and George Reed, and the purchase of winger Tom Mitchell from Newcastle United for £785, the slide could not be stopped. After a shocking run from November to April, when only one win was registered in 18 games, the outcome was inevitable. Even the big money signing of Scottish International John White from Hearts for a new record £5,600 failed to avert it. The only minor plus point was the visit of Newcastle United in the Christmas fixture saw a new crowd record of 48,490 established although Leeds lost that match 2-1.
Tom Jennings was the main source of goals, scoring 35 goals of the 69 league goals, and he broke his own club goal-scoring record. Goals were plentiful around this time as defences were still coming to terms with the new off-side law introduced the previous season. Nineteen of Jennings' goals came in only nine games, including three consecutive hat-tricks. Unfortunately the shaky defence had leaked 88 goals and their fight against relegation was in vain. Leeds duly accompanied bottom of the league West Bromwich Albion in relegation to the Second Division.
Progress was made in the FA Cup with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland at home in the 3rd Round. A crowd of 42,694 was on hand to witness the goal-less draw at home to Bolton Wanderers in the 4th Round, but Leeds' hopes were dashed as they were handed a 3-0 defeat in the replay.
Arthur Fairclough and his assistant Bill Norman accepted responsibility for the failure and resigned.
'Record:'
| 'League' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | ||||
| 21st | 42 | 11 | 8 | 23 | 69 | 88 | -19 | 30 | 4th Round | Tom Jennings | 37 | 22,073 |
----
Don Revie
Don was without question Leeds United's most successful manager on success rate purely on matches, progression in Cup competitions and on Trophies won. After a mediocre season in 1960-61 the Leeds board felt that a managerial change was required. Jack Taylor was asked to resign as manager and Revie was installed as player/manager in March 1961. Revie's first full season in charge wasn't the most successful with Leeds escaping relegation by three points. Leeds' famous white strip was introduced by Revie in the same season, and two seasons after Leeds were promoted as division champions to the top flight. Leeds first major trophies came in 1968 and over the following 6 years Leeds won five major domestic and European trophies. Revie left Leeds at the end 1973-74 season to manage England, leaving the Football League Championship as a parting gift.
Trophies
★ 1963-64
★
★ Division 2 - Champions
★ 1967-68
★
★ Football League Cup - Winners
★
★ Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - Winners
★ 1968-69
★
★ Division 1 - Champions
★
★ FA Charity Shield - Winners
★ 1970-71
★
★ Inter-Cities Fairs Cup - Winners
★ 1971-72
★
★ FA Cup - Winners
★ 1973-74
★
★ Division 1 - Champions
Seasons
1960-61 - 1961-62 - 1962-63 - 1963-64 - 1964-65 - 1965-66 - 1966-67 - 1967-68 - 1968-69 - 1969-70 - 1970-71 - 1971-72 - 1972-73 - 1973-74
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1960-61
Don Revie took charge of Leeds United on 17 March 1961 but his first few matches in charge weren't exactly the most successful. Revie lost his first match in charge away at Portsmouth 3-1 and it took until his third match before Leeds managed to get any kind of result, with a 1-1 draw away at Luton Town. Don's first and only win this season was a 7-0 drubbing of Lincoln City at Elland Road but more defeats and draws followed, with the dismal streak only coming to a halt thanks to the end of the season.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | |||
| 14th | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 75 | 83 | -8 | 38 | 3rd Round | 4th Round | John McCole | 23 | 13,423 |
| Revie's Record in Charge | |||||||||||||
| 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 6 | Jack Charlton | 5 | 10,239 | |||
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1961-62
1961-62 was a season to forget. Don had yet to fully learn his trade and hadn't fully stamped his mark on the Leeds squad. There was little progress in the short term, however, and for many weeks in 1961-62 Leeds United seemed destined for the Third Division.
Bobby Collins was brought in from Everton towards the end of the season assuming the captaincy. He was a tiny man, but he brought a huge desire to win, one which had been missing from the Leeds side since Charles departed. Burnley reserve forward Ian Lawson and Sheffield United's Cliff Mason also arrived at Elland Road just prior to the transfer deadline and all three newcomers were in the side for the home game against Swansea. Collins opened the scoring in a vital 2-0 victory. It was a crucial result and, although Leeds lost 4-1 the following week at Southampton, set the team up for a phenomenal run in, during which they remained unbeaten.
They battled manfully through their remaining fixtures, building on a stout defence. Just four goals were conceded in eight matches following the Southampton reverse. Leeds still had much to do to survive with a point required away to Newcastle United to survive. An extraordinary performance saw Leeds triumph 3-0 to preserve their Second Division status. Skillful South African left winger Albert Johanneson gave an outstanding performance, opening the scoring and laying on the second goal.
In the FA Cup Leeds managed to get a draw against Derby County at home but the return leg saw Leeds lose 3-1 and the exited the competition. In the League cup Leeds beat Brentford 4-1 and Huddersfield Town 3-2 at Elland Road before receiving a bye to the 4th round. Leeds drew with Rotherham United at Millmoor requiring a replay which leeds lost 2-1 and went out of the competition.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | |||
| 19th | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 50 | 61 | -11 | 36 | 3rd Round | 4th Round | Billy Bremner & Jack Charlton | 12 | 13,340 |
----
1962-63
The successful battle for survival brought Reynolds, now chairman, and Revie new heart and they spent a record £53,000 to bring old favourite John Charles back from Juventus. The move was not a successful one and Charles played just 11 matches before returning to Italy, this time to Roma for £65,000. Leeds lost three of the first six games of 1962/63 and it looked like another season with not much to hope for.
Revie had had enough, and threw caution to the wind, drafting in youngsters. The move was a great success. On 8 September 1962, a leeds team containing Paul Reaney (17), Norman Hunter (18) and Gary Sprake (17) won 2-0 with goals from Rod Johnson (17) and Billy Bremner (19). Four games later, Scottish winger Peter Lorimer became the youngest player in the club's history at 15 years, 289 days old. Lorimer played only one more match that season and Johnson quickly faded, but Sprake, Reaney, Hunter and Bremner were there to stay, mainstays of the team for the next decade.
The big freeze that winter left Leeds without a game from 22 December until March 2, resulting in a run of 22 games in just 78 days. The youngsters emerged unaffected and Leeds stormed through the spring, with only a run of three defeats in May preventing promotion. Leeds missed out by just four points.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | |||
| 5th | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 79 | 53 | 26 | 48 | 5th Round | 3rd Round | Jim Storrie | 27 | 20,376 |
----
1963-64
Don Revie kicked off 1963-64 by tempting right winger Johnny Giles away from Cup winners Manchester United for a miserly £35,000. It was an astonishing signing, and many well known judges questioned Giles' sanity. He was leaving one of the biggest clubs in the country, now back winning honours after the disaster of the Munich air crash, for a move to a down at heel Second Division side. But Giles saw something in the urgency of Revie and the ambitions of Leeds United which excited him. Giles missed only two games that season. All round, it was a very settled side - Norman Hunter was the only ever present, but Gary Sprake, Paul Reaney, Billy Bremner, Bobby Collins and Giles missed only eight matches between them, while Willie Bell, Don Weston and Albert Johanneson all played more than 35 times. Such stability brought consistency and the defence was now almost flawless, conceding just 34 goals in the League. Leeds stayed unbeaten at Elland Road and lost just 3 games away in the league
The battle went down to the wire as Leeds, Preston and Sunderland pulled away from the pack, but in the end a run of eight wins and two draws at the end was crucial. Leeds brought in England centre forward Alan Peacock for £55,000 from Middlesbrough and he got 8 crucial strikes in the last 14 matches.
When Leeds beat Southampton 3-0 at home on 7 March, it was the first time they had scored more than two goals in any game since they had beat the same side 4-1 the previous October. The win eased the pressure which had built up and
promotion back to Division One was secured on 11 April with a 3-0 win at Swansea.
In the FA Cup Leeds put Cardiff City out 1-0 and managed a 1-1 draw at Elland Road with Everton before losing 2-0 in the replay away. In the League cup Leeds beat Mansfield Town with ease 5-1 with both Lawson and Johanneson scoring 2 each before beating Swansea Town 2-0. However Leeds' run ended with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | |||
| '1st' | '42' | '24' | '15' | '3' | '71' | '34' | '37' | '63' | 4th Round | 4th Round | Albert Johanneson & Ian Lawson | 15 | 28,723 |
----
1964-65
Leeds had never got anywhere near winning either the League Championship or the FA Cup, but they nearly won both in a single season as they took the English game by storm in 1964-65. They won their opening three matches, including an astonishing victory against reigning champions Liverpool, and were in the running for the title all year. The hatred they inspired outside the club by their harsh style of play only served to drive the team closer together. They enjoyed a run of 13 wins in 15 matches at one point and it was only a stumble in the run, with two defeats and a draw in the last five games, that let eventual champions Manchester United in. The 1-0 loss at Elland Road on 17 April against their main rivals was crucial, but even then victory in the final match away to Birmingham would have given Leeds an unlikely title. They fell three goals behind before fighting their way back to level. It was not enough however, and Manchester United took the title on goal average after winning their last game.
The form also sustained a marvelous FA Cup run. Leeds knocked out Southport, Everton, Shrewsbury Town and Crystal Palace before a late goal from Billy Bremner saw off Manchester United after a replay in the semi finals. Leeds managed to take the final into extra time, and the indomitable Bremner equalised against the run of play before Ian St John's diving header won the Cup for Liverpool.
In the League Cup Leeds knocked out Huddersfield Town before losing 3-2 to Aston Villa. One Leeds player received a trophy however with Bobby Collins, the captain, being voted Footballer of the Year.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | |||
| 2nd | 42 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 83 | 52 | 31 | 61 | Finalists | 3rd Round | Jim Storrie | 19 | 36,413 |
----
1965-66
There was a new experience in 1965-66. Leeds entered European football for the first time in their history playing in the the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Revie left his squad unchanged for the new challenge, but a purchase was prompted when Collins broke a thigh in the second leg of their first European tie against Torino. It cost £30,000 to bring Huddersfield right winger Mike O'Grady in as a replacement, and the player brought fresh options up front, although the unique fire and determination of the skipper was sorely missed. However, Johnny Giles slotted into Collins' central midfield slot alongside Bremner as if born to it and an awesome new partnership was formed.
Leeds finished runners-up in the League again, although they always lagged behind pace setters Liverpool, finishing six points away.
Their first foray into Europe brought both controversy and glory, with some violent clashes and a run which took them to the last four knocking out such clubs as Valencia. Eventually, a far more experienced Real Zaragoza side beat them 3-1 in a semi final play off. In the FA Cup Leeds were disappointing compared to their previous seasons efforts. The competition started with a 6-0 mauling of Bury at Elland Road but Leeds lost 1-0 away to Chelsea in the following round. The League Cup was also disappointing losing 4-2 at home to West Bromwich Albion in the third round.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Europe' | |||
| 2nd | 42 | 23 | 9 | 10 | 79 | 38 | 41 | 55 | 4th Round | 3rd Round | UC Semi-Final | Peter Lorimer | 19 | 34,601 |
----
1966-67
The defensive unit of Sprake, Reaney, Charlton, Hunter and Bell was normally on duty, but the versatile Paul Madeley had become a useful addition to the squad, featuring in eight different shirts as injuries disrupted things. Peter Lorimer now regularly featured on the right flank with any one of Albert Johanneson, Terry Cooper or the gifted Eddie Gray on the left. This brought a more creative approach, but the lack of a regular goalscorer was noticeable. Giles was the leading marksman with just 12, and there was never a consistent combination up front. Rod Johnson, Mike O'Grady, Alan Peacock, Jim Storrie, Jimmy Greenhoff and Rod Belfitt all got their chances, but only Greenhoff managed more than 14 games.
They brushed aside Crystal Palace (3-0) and West Bromwich Albion (5-0) before a battling Sunderland took two replays to defeat. Manchester City were then beaten 1-0 before. The FA Cup semi finals clash in the last four with Chelsea was a torrid affair and Leeds lost out 1-0, having a late equaliser controversially disallowed. The League Cup run wasn't anything to shout about. A replay was required to beat Preston before West Ham dumped Leeds out of the competition 7-0 away in the 4th round.
The furthest they went was in the Fairs Cup beating Hibernian, Rangers and Dundee before reaching the two legged final against Dinamo Zagreb. They had to wait until the start of the following season to settle matters because the tie was postponed due to a fixture congestion. Leeds lost the first leg in Yugoslavia 2-0 and then an over cautious approach in the second leg condemned the side to a goalless draw and another runners up spot.
There was some good news however when Jack Charlton became the second Leeds player in three seasons to win the Footballer of the Year award for his performances at the heart of the defence.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Europe' | |||
| 4th | 42 | 22 | 11 | 9 | 62 | 42 | 20 | 55 | Semi-Final | 4th Round | UC Finalists | Johnny Giles | 18 | 35,914 |
----
1967-68
Revie reacted to the shortcomings in attack in October and laid out a club record £100,000 to buy Sheffield United's hard Mick Jones. He made a difference but only managed 8 goals in the League. However, it was his brave and unselfish running, together with an ability to hold the ball up long enough to bring others into play, which really counted. Terry Cooper and Eddie Gray were now regulars, working in tandem on the left, and their attacking skills added greatly to the side's creative dimension. Leeds however lost too many games away from Elland Road to mount a serious challenge in the League, but still repeated their fourth place finish, ending just five points behind champions Manchester City.
Disappointment also followed in the FA Cup after beating Derby County, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United along the way, Leeds again went down 1-0 in the semi final, this time to Everton. Their first major trophy came courtesy of the Football League Cup. Leeds conceded just a single goal in their run to the final and defences were on top again in a drab battle for the trophy against Arsenal. Leeds were understandably interested more in victory than contributing to a showpiece, and once Cooper had hammered home a long range goal after 20 minutes, United simply shut up shop but Leeds finally had something to show for their efforts.
Six months later, they won more silverware. The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final was once again held over until the start of the following season, with Leeds facing Ferencvárosi. Leeds looked to have missed their chance when they could only manage a solitary goal in the first match at Elland Road, but another great rearguard performance secured a goalless draw in the away leg and an aggregate 1-0 win, leaving Leeds United as the first British winners of the trophy.
This was Leeds' first and only double trophy winning season.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Europe' | |||
| 4th | 42 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 71 | 41 | 30 | 53 | Semi-Final | 'Winners' | 'UC Winners' | Peter Lorimer | 30 | 35,027 |
----
1968-69
Revie had told his players at the start of the season that they were going to win the League Championship and do so without losing a single match. They did in fact go nine games undefeated before reigning champions Manchester City ended their run at Maine Road with a 3-1 win. Four games later Leeds were humbled 5-1 away to Burnley, but after that the side strode through the next 28 matches undefeated. They conceded just 26 goals all season, and won the championship with a record haul of 67 points.
Don had guided the club from the brink of relegation to the Third Division when he took over as manager to become one of the biggest clubs in the country, feared and respected throughout the land. Their dominance in the 1968-69 league was frightening and when Leeds United were on their game there were few clubs who could live with them. It was Leeds' first 'League Championship' in their history.
In the FA Cup Leeds weren't so un-beatable having been beaten 3-1 by Sheffield Wednesday in the replay at Elland Road. The League Cup was just as unsuccessful and after beating Charlton Athletic and Bristol City, Leeds lost 2-1 away to Crystal Palace. The Inter Cities Fairs Cup was slightly more successful and Leeds even brushed aside Hannover 96 7-2 on aggregate, but the following round they were beaten 3-0 on aggregate by Újpest Dozsa and went out of the competition.
Leeds however finally after forty-nine years had their hands on the ultimate prize in English football.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Europe' | |||
| '1st' | '42' | '27' | '13' | '2' | '66' | '26' | '40' | '67' | 3rd Round | 4th Round | UC 4th Round | Mick Jones | 17 | 34,424 |
----
1969-70
The season started in the usual style with the FA Community Shield between the League champions Leeds and FA Cup champions Manchester City. Leeds won the match 2-1 with goals from Eddie Gray and Jack Charlton.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Europe' | |||
| 2nd | 42 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 84 | 49 | 35 | 57 | Finalists | 3rd Round | EC Semi-Final | Allan Clarke & Mick Jones | 26 | 35,324 |
----
1970-71
Don guided Leeds to their second victory in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. The competition was re-structured after the Final into the UEFA Cup. UEFA arranged a special play-off match between the first and last winners and the competition to decide who kept the trophy. Leeds lost the match 2-1 to FC Barcelona on 22 September 1971.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Europe' | |||
| 2nd | 42 | 27 | 10 | 5 | 72 | 30 | 42 | 64 | 5th Round | 2nd Round | 'UC Winners' | Allan Clarke | 23 | 37,218 |
----
1971-72
Don guided Leeds to their first and only 'FA Cup Victory' winning 1-0 over Arsenal, the same team they had beaten four years earlier in the League Cup Final by the same score. Allan Clarke scored the winning goal.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Europe' | |||
| 2nd | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 73 | 31 | 42 | 57 | 'Winners' | 3rd Round | UC 1st Round | Peter Lorimer | 29 | 35,023 |
----
1972-73
Don guided Leeds to the final of the Cup Winners' Cup. The final however was marred by controversy. Leeds had goals and penalty appeals disallowed and AC Milan won the game 1-0. Later the Greek official, Christos Michas, was convicted of match fixing in a court in Greece relating to events in the final. He was sent to jail & fined by the Greek court and banned from football for life by UEFA. Leeds, however, were not granted the replay they requested and AC Milan were allowed to keep the title and trophy by UEFA.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Europe' | |||
| 3rd | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 71 | 45 | 26 | 53 | Finalists | 4th Round | CWC Finalists | Allan Clarke | 26 | 33,993 |
----
1973-74
1973-74 was Don's last season as Leeds manager. He left at the end of the season to become England manager. He however left the club as 'League Champions'.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Europe' | |||
| '1st' | '42' | '24' | '14' | '4' | '66' | '31' | '35' | '62' | 5th Round | 2nd Round | UC 3rd Round | Mick Jones | 17 | 37,026 |
----
Howard Wilkinson
Wilkinson’s appointment at Elland Road was something of a shock to all. Leeds were languishing at the bottom of the Second Division, while Sheffield Wednesday, his club at the time, were in the top half of the First Division. Wilkinson's pedigree was good. He had guided Wednesday to promotion in his first season there and had guided them to several quarter-finals and a semi-final in the English cups. Wilkinson joined Leeds nine matches into the 1988-89 season with Leeds 23rd out of 24 at the time. He stabilised the club eventually finishing in the top half of the League and the following season Leeds were promoted as champions. Leeds were impressive in their first season after promotion and the following season Wilkinson guided the club to their first League Championship in eighteen years, which was made all the sweeter to Leeds fans by their arch-rivals Manchester United finishing second. However after the Charity Shield Victory Wilkinson's team never really achieved much of note. They appeared in the League Cup final in 1996 losing badly and following a bad start to the 1996-97 season Wikinson's spell as Leeds manager came to an end, after a bitterly disappointing result at home to Manchester United.
Trophies
★ 1989-90
★
★ Division 2 - Champions
★ 1991-92
★
★ Division 1 - Champions
★
★ FA Charity Shield - Winners
Seasons
1988-89 - 1989-90 - 1990-91 - 1991-92 - 1992-93 - 1993-94 - 1994-95 - 1995-96 - 1996-97
----
1988-89
Wilko took charge nine league games into the season and instantly set about changing things. He won few friends by ordering the removal of all the mementoes of past glories from the rooms and corridors of Elland Road. However Wilko turned things round well from the 23rd positioned team he took over and the club finished 10th in the league.
He was soon into the transfer market, signing midfielder Andy Williams from Rotherham United for £170,000, while Mike Whitlow and Neil Parsley were picked up for £30,000 from Witton Albion. His liking and trust of his former players became apparent when he went to Bristol City and paid £50,000 to pick up ex-Wednesday striker Carl Shutt, with the promising Bob Taylor leaving in the opposite direction for £200,000. Shutty became an instant hero, scoring a hat-trick on debut in a 3-0 home win over Bournemouth. Mickey Adams was sold to Southampton for £250,000, Peter Swan went to Hull City for £200,000 and Jack Ashurst and Vince Brockie both departed for Doncaster Rovers for £10,000 and £15,000 respectively.
Three consecutive draws were achieved before the first League victory of his reign came, 2-1 over Hull City at Elland Road. League survival was the priority and a steady accumulation of points saw Leeds safe long before the season’s end. Wilko now started to look to the future and began his team-building in earnest with Gordon Strachan moving the correct way across the Pennines, from Manchester United for £300,000 and Spurs' Chris Fairclough came on loan to the end of the season when his move was made permanent for £500,000. Strachan, who was a model professional, proved to be a bargain and just as in the Revie years, a short red-headed Scot became an inspirational leader on which success was built.
In the FA Cup Leeds bead Brighton but were then knocked out of the cup by Nottingham Forest. The League Cup wasn't much better and although Wilko made progression to the third round certain with his first match in charge beating Peterborough United 3-1 (5-2 on aggregate) they were knocked out by Luton Town 2-0 at Elland Road. The Full Members Cup was more of the same. Leeds beat Shrewsbury Town 3-1 in the first round but were then knocked out by Millwall 2-0 away.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Full Members Cup' | |||
| 10th | 46 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 59 | 50 | 9 | 67 | 4th Round | 3rd Round | 2nd Round | Bobby Davison | 17 | 20,505 |
| Wilkinson's Record in Charge | ||||||||||||||
| 37 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 53 | 37 | 16 | 61 | 4th Round | 3rd Round | 2nd Round | Bobby Davison | 15 | 20,396 | |
----
1989-90
The Season started with Wilko's spending spree leaving the club £2 million in debt. John Sheridan went to Nottingham Forest for £650,000, and Mark Aizlewood went to Bradford City for £200,000. The total of outgoing transfers was £1.5million but in-turn Wilko spent £3 million buying players who would be experienced and able to stand up to the rigours of a 46 match campaign. His first choice Vinnie Jones was bought for £600,000 who was immensely popular with fans, he was willing to sweat blood for the cause which made up for his lack of some of the game’s finer skills. John Hendrie came in for £500,000 from Newcastle United, Mel Sterland, for £600,000 from Glasgow Rangers, John McClelland cost £100,000 from Watford and Mickey Thomas, was £10,000 from Shrewsbury Town, while Jim Beglin, came on a free transfer from Liverpool.
The opening few games weren't a sign of things to come. Bobby Davison and Ian Baird gave Leeds a 2-1 lead after 30 minutes over Newcastle United but a dire defensive performance saw Leeds routed 5-2. The visit of Middlesbrough required a freak last minute own goal for Leeds to scrape home 2-1. A run of successive 1-1 draws followed at home to Blackburn Rovers and Ipswich Town and away at Stoke City before an 11 game undefeated run including 9 victories saw Leeds well up with the leaders, and a 2-0 win at Middlesbrough in early December saw Leeds proudly in first place.
Ian Baird left Leeds for Middlesbrough for £500,000 with Lee Chapman, coming in for £400,000 from Nottingham Forest in January. Imre Varadi cost £50,000 from Sheffield Wednesday and Chris Kamara was £150,000 from Stoke City with Noel Blake going in the other way for the same value. The arrival of Chapman and Kamara proved to be the final pieces in the promotion jigsaw for Leeds, as a three way battle developed between the three Uniteds of Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle for the two promotion places. Sheffield United were no opposition for Leeds at Easter being brushed aside 4-0. Goals from Mel Sterland and Gordon Strachan earned a 2-1 victory over Leicester City left Leeds in the top spot as a win at relegation-threatened Bournemouth would bring not only promotion but also the championship. Sheffield United, had Leicester City away, and Newcastle United, had Middlesbrough away.
The two latest Leeds recruits combined as Chris Kamara crossed for Lee Chapman to rise and head the winner, and Leeds had little difficulty in hanging on to their lead to win the 'championship' with 85 points. on goal difference from Sheffield United who won at Leicester City. Old Leeds boy Ian Baird scored twice to earn himself a championship medal, while ensuring both Middlesbrough’s safety from relegation and Newcastle United’s failure to gain promotion. To add irony, Leeds replaced Wilkinson's old club Sheffield Wednesday in the top division.
The cup's weren't anything to boast about. The FA Cup saw Leeds lose 1-0 at home to Ipswich Town, and the League Cup saw leeds go out 4-2 on aggregate to Oldham Athletic. The Full Members Cup was slightly more successful with Leeds putting out Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at home, Barnsley 2-1 away and Stoke City 5-4 on pens after a 2-2 draw away before losing to Aston Villa 2-0 at Villa Park.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Full Members Cup' | |||
| '1st' | '46' | '24' | '13' | '9' | '79' | '52' | '27' | '85' | 3rd Round | 2nd Round | 4th Round | Gordon Strachan | 18 | 26,865 |
----
1990-91
Wilkinson started by spending £2.5 million on three players in preparation for the return to the elite. He bought John Lukic back from Arsenal for Leeds' first £1 million transfer, shortly followed by Gary McAllister from Leicester City for the same price, while West Bromwich Albion defender Chris Whyte joined for £450,000. John Hendrie joined Middlesbrough for £550,000 and there were free transfers Brendan Ormsby to Doncaster Rovers, Chris O’Donnell to Exeter City, and Mickey Thomas to Stoke City.
The return to the top flight saw a first day away trip to Goodison Park to meet Everton . They roared onto the attack and were 3-0 up by half-time with goals from Chris Fairclough, Gary Speed and Imre Varadi, before a second half revival from Everton saw United hang on for a 3-2 victory. The first home game saw a visit from Manchester United, who were fortunate to hold on for a boring 0-0 draw.
Vinnie Jones left due to lack of first team chances for £650,000 to Sheffield United. He came straight back to Elland Road for Sheffield United's next match but Leeds won 2-0.
United could have been forgiven if they had settled for mid-table respectability after such a hard season but it was to their credit that they battled all the odds to finish fourth on 64 points, with some tremendous efforts. They even almost managed to get a draw out of Liverpool pulling it back to 5-4 after being 4-0 down at half-time
Leeds also had good cup runs. The FA Cup saw Leeds require a replay at Elland Road after a 1-1 score away to Barnsley eventually winning 4-0 before they met Arsenal. It was this meeting that finally convinced the F.A. that replay's were taking too long and too much out of the players. The decision was made for the following season to use Penalties as a decider. Leeds played Arsenal a totl of four times starting away from home. They drew 0-0, 1-1, and 0-0 before the fourth match finally separated the teams. Leeds were beaten 2-1 at Elland Road and the run ended. The League Cup saw Leeds brush aside Leicester City 3-1 on aggregate, Oldham Athletic 2-0 at home, QPR 3-0 away and Aston Villa 4-1 at home before they met old rivals Manchester United in a two legged semi-final. Unfortunately Leeds lost both, losing 2-1 at Old Trafford and 1-0 at Elland Road. In the Full Members Cup Leeds made their furthest progression. Leeds beat both Wolves and Derby County 2-1 before a Northern Alliance Semi-Final against Manchester City which they won 2-0. The Northern Alliance final was a two legged affair against Everton and Leeds managed a 3-3 draw at Elland Road, however the return leg wasn't successful and Leeds lost 3-1. Everton lost the National final 4-1 to Crystal Palace
Two Leeds players didn't finish the season with nothing however. Chapman finished the top scorer in the First Division with 21 league goals and Strachan was awarded Footballer of the Year.
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Full Members Cup' | |||
| 4th | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 65 | 47 | 18 | 64 | 4th Round | Semi-Final | Northern Final | Lee Chapman | 31 | 25,779 |
----
1991-92
'League Champions'
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Full Members Cup' | |||
| '1st' | '42' | '21' | '16' | '4' | '74' | '37' | '37' | '82' | 3rd Round | 5th Round | 2nd Round | Lee Chapman | 20 | 27,668 |
----
1992-93
'Charity Shield Winners & Youth Cup Winners'
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Europe' | |||
| 17th | 42 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 57 | 62 | -5 | 51 | 4th Round | 3rd Round | EC 2nd Round | Lee Chapman | 17 | 27,585 |
----
1993-94
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | |||
| 5th | 42 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 65 | 39 | 26 | 70 | 4th Round | 2nd Round | Rod Wallace | 17 | 33,327 |
----
1994-95
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | |||
| 5th | 42 | 20 | 13 | 9 | 59 | 38 | 21 | 73 | 5th Round | 2nd Round | Tony Yeboah | 13 | 30,959 |
----
1995-96
League Cup Finalists
| 'League' | 'Cups' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Position' | 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'F.A. Cup' | 'League Cup' | 'Europe' | |||
| 13th | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 40 | 57 | -17 | 43 | 6th Round | Finalists | UC 2nd Round | Tony Yeboah | 19 | 30,273 |
----
1996-97
This was Wilko's last season at Elland Road. At the start of the season Leeds had been overtaken by the Arcadia Group and they were looking to change things round. Leeds didn't start the season well and a particularly embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Elland Road to arch-rivals Manchester United doomed Wilko to his fate. Wilkinson had his contract terminated after only 5 matches (all league matches) of the new season.
| Wilkinson's Record in Charge | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'P' | 'W' | 'D' | 'L' | 'F' | 'A' | 'GD' | 'Pts' | 'Top Scorer' | 'Goals' | 'Av. Att.' |
| 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 7 | Ian Harte | 2 | 32,188 |
Notes
1. Managers Ratings
External links
★ Leeds United F.C. History at ozwhitelufc.net.au
★ Leeds United: The Full Story at Leedsfans.org.uk
★ Leeds United Managers at wafll.com
★ History of the Club at mightyleeds.co.uk
★ Arthur Fairclough at mightlyleeds.co.uk
★ Don Revie at mightlyleeds.co.uk
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