After a 16 year absence Leeds United returned to the Premier League in 2020 and, as fans returned to the famous Elland Road stadium, the city is bouncing again.
A ninth placed finish last season was the reward for some of the most exciting and entertaining football in the top flight, while players such as Kalvin Phillips and Luke Ayling made a smooth transition to the top flight and, up front, Patrick Bamford had an outstanding season, scoring 17 goals and finishing joint fourth top scorer in the league with Spurs star Heung-Min Son.
The Number Nine has been injured this season but has just made his return and the Yorkshire side is hopeful of another double figures tally from the 28 year old. He’s just signed a five year contract with the club and, if he sees it out, I wouldn’t bet against him becoming Leeds’ top Premier League scorer of all time.
Here at SBOTOP we’ve tracked the Whites’ progress since their return to the top flight and the future looks bright. But let’s take a glance backwards now, and look at the strikers who’ve starred for the Whites in the competition’s 30 year history.
Mark Viduka 59
When Mark Anthony Viduka rolled into Elland Road in 2000 he was a relative unknown to Premier League fans, though his scoring record at Dynamo Zagreb was impressive. But in his four seasons with the Yorkshire side he wrote himself into the club’s record books with 59 goals in 130 games. He signed for £6m; just imagine what a one-in-two striker would cost now!
The big Australian striker was the spearhead of a Leeds attack in their most successful era in the Premier League. They reached the Champions League semi-final in 2001 and Viduka’s four goals remain the most scored by an Australian in Europe’s top competition, while he led Australia to the Round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup, their best ever appearance.
Harry Kewell 49
Another Aussie star was a big name in West Yorkshire at the same time, having arrived at the club in 1996 and becoming a fans favourite with his all action displays and eye for goal. Kewell played as a winger or advanced midfielder and scored some spectacular goals in his time with Leeds, finishing with 49 from 181 appearances before crossing the Pennines to play for Liverpool.
He played alongside Viduka in the Champions League and the 2006 World Cup, and the two had an understanding which reaped huge benefits for club and country. Had assists stats been readily available at the time Kewell would have been up there with the best.
Rod Wallace 42
In seven stop-start seasons at Leeds United during the 1990s diminutive striker Rodney Wallace scored 42 Premier League goals for the club, though he actually scored 53 in total, 11 in the First Division before the Premier League was formed. In fact he was in Leeds’ team when they were last top flight champions, in 1992, but Wallace didn’t kick on and he never quite lived up to the potential he showed at Southampton where he had scored 48 goals in 125 games.
His twin brother, Ray, also moved from Southampton to Leeds in 1991, but he moved on to Stoke having struggled to make an impression in Yorkshire.
Alan Smith 38
We should make an honourable mention toofor Leeds boy Alan Smith, though he wasn’t the most popular of characters when he left the club after relegation in 2004. That in itself was understandable for a young England star, but to go to Manchester United was not the outcome Leeds fans had hoped for.
But he had played his part in Leeds’ Champions League adventure at a great time for the club.
The Class of 2021
Patrick Bamford 19
The striker’s return from injury was a big boost to Leeds, as he scored a last gasp equaliser to secure a draw against Brentford last weekend. And the club’s top scorer deserves his success, having tried to break through for years. It just took the right manager in Marcelo Bielsa to give Bamford the confidence to become a top class goal scorer.
Raphinha 12
Another player to write some Premier League 2021 news headlines is wing wizard Raphinha. The Brazilian creative forward makes assists by the bucketful and, weighing in with 12 goals too make him one of the most marketable assets in European football. The latest Premier League 2021 betting odds predict a lower mid table place for the Whites, but if Bamford and Raphinha stay fit then another top ten finish is surely on the cards.
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