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Top 10 Leeds United signings since Revie’s side

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Okay so, this isn’t the top 10 ever, just the top 10 of my lifetime otherwise it’s easy and it would be full of players Revie signed!

Batts

10. David Batty

Technically this is a cop-out, but seeing as we re-signed Batts 1998 I thought I would include him, David enjoyed 2 spells at Elland Road and was a fans favourite throughout, originally coming the academy, Batty played a key role in Leeds 89-90 promotion team and went on to be part of the formidable midfield that won us the league championship in 1992. Batts returned in 98 and played a key role for Leeds in our brief flirt with trophies before retiring after we were relegated.

Sheridan

9. John Sheridan

Picked up at the time from Manchester City, Sheridan went on to play a key role for Leeds United as we recaptured first division status. And to be honest, he deserves to be in this list just for “that free-kick!”

Yeboah

8.Tony Yeboah

When Yeboah arrived from Frankfurt, for a then club record fee of £3.4 million, not many had heard of him outside of the Bundesliga. It didn’t take Yeboah long to take the Premier League by storm, Yeboah grabbed 13 goals in his first 16 goals which ensured Leeds would return to the UEFA cup and would see him go on to score that hat trick in Monaco! During the same season we were also treated to those goals against Liverpool and Wimbledon, respectively. Winner of the Leeds player of the year award in 1996 he made 55 full and 4 substitute appearances and netted 32 goals.

Lee chapman

7. Lee Chapman

Not a beautiful footballer, but a natural goalscorer. Chapman arrived in 1990 and led the club to the Second and First division championship where he earned a reputation for his aerial ability and a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Undoubtedly a Leeds legend. Chapman made 171 apps and scored 80 goals before he left the club in 1993.

lee bowyer

6. Lee Bowyer

Bowyer moved to Leeds United in July 1996 from Charlton Athletic for a then British record fee for a teenager of £3 million. After taking a long time to settle, his performances led to him being voted United’s Player of the Year for 1998/99. A hard-working player, hard in the tackle and with an eye for goal, Bowyer looked to be the fringe of an England place until his well-publicised troubles. Bowyer showed magnificent form in the first half of the 1999/2000 season, he was a star at home and in Europe as Leeds made the semi-finals of the Champions League, and he almost finished top scorer in the competition.

LEEDS V BESIKTAS PIC VARLEY PICTURE AGENCY MARK VIDUKA CELEBRATES HIS GOAL

5. Mark Viduka

Viduka signed for Leeds in 2000 for £6m to add the power to an otherwise lightweight forward line. A memorable four goals at home to Liverpool gained him instant approval from the Leeds fans and he finished with an impressive 22 goals in that first season. 2001-02 yielded a further 16 and he was constantly linked with a move away, particularly to Italy. Fortunately for Leeds he stayed and virtually single-handedly battled off relegation with 22 goals in 2002-03.

Nige mart

4. Nigel Martyn

Leeds paid £2.25 million for Martyn in the summer of 1996, then a record for a goalkeeper. He had a superb first season for the Whites as part of George Graham’s Leeds revolution. His form continued to be a model of consistency and he was an ever-present between 1999 and 2002. He helped United to third place in the Premiership, a place in the Champions League and the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup. Martyn left in 2003 as we was replaced by Paul Robinson in the Leeds goal. Played 273 games and was Leeds Player of the Year in 1997.

Gaz mac

3. Gary McAllister

After winning the Second Division championship, Howard Wilkinson sought to add skill to United’s muscular approach and beat off a challenge from Brian Clough to land the rising Leicester City star for £1m. McAllister dovetailed perfectly with Strachan, Batty and Speed to form an all-star international midfield, who were magnificent, as Leeds won the 1991-92 title. McAllister added goals, vision and dead ball creativity to the Leeds midfield and will forever be remembered as a Leeds legend.

Radebe

2. Lucas Radebe

Lucas was signed from Kaizer Chiefs in 1994 for a mere £250,00, which looking back proved to be our biggest bargain in the transfer market. The “Chief” as he is affectionately known is an absolute icon in his homeland. He led the South Africans to their first ever World Cup finals in 1998 and is an inspirational figure for aspiring footballers in that country. Due to injury, he missed the 2001/2002 season but made 26 appearances in a generally disappointing season for his club in the 2002/03 season. A stalwart clubman he took a cut in pay to remain at Leeds, but unfortunately was injured early in the 2004-05 season at Wolves. Lucas was the icon for all of us fans who were around during the 90’s and multiple times he turned down a move away from the club.

Strachan

1. Gordon Strachan

At a cost of £300,000, Strachan arrived from over the Pennines from the scum and got on board with Howard Wilkinson’s idea to bring the glory back to Elland Road.. Strachan proved to be our best ever signing by coming in at a time we were in the second division and really the club and the team and the whole thing started to click when he came in. An undoubted legend that this football club owes an awful lot too. Strachan was doubted by the press in 1991 with a return to top flight football, how extremely wrong they were. Strachan was named footballer of the year in 1991, then led his team to the league title in 1992 before being awarded a OBE in 1993. Strachan moved on to Coventry before beginning his career in football management.

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  • Jeff Samuel says:

    It’s a cop out alright.
    Batts was a tough team player and a fabulous guy to be in ant team but could never have been a Leeds Great.
    Sorry I can’t agree with this.

    • 1Leeds_Lad says:

      Sorry Jeff, …. Batty may not have been a midfield genius, but can anyone ever remember him having a bad game or ever giving less than 110%. He was one of those rare players who did all the hard work, rarely made a mistake, and provided the freedom for others to claim the glory. …. Without doubt, he was one of the greatest players to ever wear our shirt . I would give anything for another Batty today, this would allow some of our emerging midfield talent the take the game to the opposition far more effectively.

    • Matt Smith says:

      Jeff, I’m assuming you watched Batts play a few times. If you did and you don’t appreciate what he brought to a team you really don’t understand much about football. In particular what he brought to Leeds by allowing McAllister, Strachan & Speed to play (and take the plaudits) was vital in our resurgence. I’m constantly amazed at how many football fans didn’t appreciate Batty but from one of our own fans??? It was no coincidence that 4 successive England managers consistently picked him.
      Assuming he qualifies for this list (on the technicality that we re-signed him) the only surprise is that he is not much higher up.
      If you are a Leeds fan and you don’t appreciate David Batty you should be having a serious word with yourself!

  • stelufc says:

    Too hard to choose, rod Wallace, Chris fairclough, Mel sterland, tony dorigo and Michael bridges could go in that list too.

    Hell Ferdinand & cantona too, although they did go to THEM

  • Ononon says:

    Good job. Of course Batty is a Leeds great! Should be higher up the list if anything. It’s only a cop out in the sense he was home grown but yes his signing back was excellent work – he made the team tick and when he was injured it showed. Got to agree on WGS as the top man.

  • Steve A says:

    Difficult subject. cant argue with most of your choices but you did say since the Revie era. No Duncan McKenzie?, No Tony Currie?,

  • WAHLS says:

    Spot on with WGS. Dont think we will ever see another David Batty though as the way the game has gone tackling is a dieing art form. Remember going to games simply looking forward to him coming off the bench when he was breaking into the team. How many players would you pay to see just to make tackles? Just Batty I’d say. He was a master of sliding tackles, never dirty, always took the ball first, then maybe the man afterwards :-). He was a breath of fresh air, and his style and attitude was a perfect fit for Leeds. WGS and Batts probably my all time fav players

  • yorxman says:

    No Peter Haddock in this list? His defensive performances in the promotion year of 89/90 were pivotal to our success. A true unsung hero!

  • michaelatha says:

    Cantona would have been the best if only Wilko real;ised it unfortunately he had more ego than Wilko so one had to go

  • Mark says:

    Liked the player too but read his book n wot a shit attitude ! And as a senior player so negative try doing a proper job n having to work to 65+ !

  • barbarossaoz says:

    What no Gary Speed

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