Leeds United A.F.C.

Leeds United A.F.C.
Clubname	Leeds United
Founded	1919
Ground	Elland Road
Capacity	37,608
Chairman	Paraag Marathe
Manager	Daniel Farke
League	Premier League
Current	2024–25 Leeds United F.C. season

Leeds United A.F.C. is a professional association football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Founded in 1919 following the dissolution of Leeds City F.C., the club has spent the majority of its history in the top two tiers of English football, winning three First Division titles. The club's most successful period was under the management of Don Revie in the 1960s and 1970s, during which they also won major domestic and European trophies. Leeds United plays its home matches at Elland Road, one of England's most iconic football grounds, and maintains intense rivalries with clubs such as Manchester United and Chelsea.

History

The club was formed in 1919 after Leeds City F.C. was forcibly disbanded by The Football Association for financial irregularities during the First World War. Elected to the Second Division, Leeds gained promotion to the First Division in 1924. The club's first major trophy was the First Division title in 1969 under the legendary management of Don Revie, who built a formidable team featuring players like Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles, and Jack Charlton. This era saw Leeds become a dominant force in English football, also winning the FA Cup in 1972, the Football League Cup in 1968, and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cup titles in 1968 and 1971. The club later won a further two First Division titles in 1974 and 1992, the latter under Howard Wilkinson, before experiencing significant financial decline in the early 21st century, including relegation to League One in 2007. After a sixteen-year absence, Leeds returned to the Premier League in 2020 under the management of Marcelo Bielsa.

Stadium

Leeds United has played at Elland Road since the club's formation in 1919. The stadium, located in the Beeston area of the city, has undergone numerous renovations and expansions, most notably for UEFA Euro 1996. Its current capacity is 37,608, making it one of the largest club grounds in England outside London. Elland Road has hosted numerous significant matches, including England internationals, FA Cup semi-finals, and UEFA Champions League fixtures during the club's European campaigns in the 1990s and early 2000s. The stadium's most famous stand is the South Stand, known for its intense atmosphere generated by the club's most vocal supporters.

Colours and crest

The club's traditional colours are white shirts, white shorts, and white socks, adopted in the early 1960s by manager Don Revie to emulate the all-white kit of the successful Real Madrid side of that era. This earned the team the nickname "The Whites." The club's crest has undergone several revisions; the current version, introduced in 2018, features the "Leeds Salute" or "smiley" symbol in the centre, a historical motif from the Revie era. Previous crests have incorporated the White Rose of York, a symbol of Yorkshire, and the city's owl emblem.

Supporters and rivalries

The club's supporters are known for their passionate and vocal backing, with famous chants including "Marching On Together." The primary rivalry is with Manchester United, a feud rooted in the historical Wars of the Roses and intensified by numerous competitive clashes in the 1960s and 1970s. Another significant rivalry exists with Chelsea, stemming from heated encounters in the late 1960s and early 1970s, most notably the 1970 FA Cup Final replay. Local rivalries include those with Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, and Huddersfield Town. The club's fanbase has a strong following internationally, with numerous official supporters' clubs worldwide.

Players

The current first-team squad is composed of players from diverse nationalities, with a core of English talent. Notable current players include goalkeeper Illan Meslier from France, midfielder Archie Gray, a product of the club's famed Thorp Arch academy, and forward Crysencio Summerville from the Netherlands. Historically, the club is renowned for developing and fielding legendary figures such as Billy Bremner, John Charles, Norman Hunter, and Alan Smith. The club's academy has produced numerous England internationals, including James Milner and Fabian Delph.

Honours

Leeds United's major honours include three First Division titles (1968–69, 1973–74, 1991–92), one FA Cup (1972), one Football League Cup (1968), and two Second Division titles (1923–24, 1963–64). In European competition, the club has won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup twice (1967–68, 1970–71) and were runners-up in the 1975 European Cup Final and the 1973 European Cup Winners' Cup Final. The club also won the FA Charity Shield in 1969 and 1992.

Management and ownership

The club is currently managed by Daniel Farke, appointed in 2023. The most successful manager in the club's history is Don Revie, whose tenure from 1961 to 1974 defined the club's golden age. Other notable managers include Howard Wilkinson, the last English manager to win the top-flight title, and Marcelo Bielsa, who oversaw the club's return to the Premier League. The club is owned by 49ers Enterprises, the investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League, with Paraag Marathe serving as chairman. Day-to-day football operations are overseen by senior figures such as technical director Gretar Steinsson.

Category:Leeds United A.F.C. Category:Football clubs in England Category:1919 establishments in England