Compared to other major football clubs in England, Leeds United were only founded in 1919. Of course, that is more than 100 years ago, but clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester United, and others can trace their histories back to before the turn of the century. Despite being relatively young compared to their rivals, Leeds United have achieved great success in their history. 

In 2020, Leeds United returned to the English Premier League after a 16-year absence. The club suffered financial problems during that time and dipped as low as League One. Now, back in the English top flight, Leeds United have made a strong impression on football fans around the world. 

Leeds United have long been England’s most “hated” team on the domestic front. Thanks to their reputation for hard-tackling and fiery rivalries, the Super Whites are a team many fans fear and hate. 

About Leeds United

Formed in 1919, Leeds United Football Club was created as the successor of Leeds City. The previous club was forcibly broken up after it was revealed players had been paid. At the time, paying football players, at least out in the open, was against the rules of the game. The newly created club not only kept the ‘Leeds’ name, but played home matches at the incredibly large Elland Road stadium. The ground remains Leeds United’s home to this day.

In 1920, Leeds United were elected to the Second Division of the Football League after the league was expanded. Leeds United were promoted to the First Division for the first time in 1924.

For the most part, Leeds United were just another English football club and there was nothing special about them until the arrival of Don Revie in March 1961. Revie was a former player and would go on to establish the Leeds style of football simultaneously becoming their greatest-ever manager. Revie was to Leeds United what Bill Shankly was to Liverpool or Sir Alex Ferguson to Manchester United. 

Revie changed everything about the club from match preparation to the team’s kit. Prior to Revie’s arrival, Leeds United wore blue and yellow. He wanted the club to compete with the best in Europe, so Revie changed the club’s home kit to all-white like Real Madrid’s home strip. Revie won two First Division titles as Leeds United manager between 1961 and 1974.

Leeds United returned to the forefront of English football in the 1990s. Manager Howard Wilkinson brought a number of players to the club, including Eric Cantona. Leeds United claimed a third league trophy in 1991-92. It was the last First Division title before the tournament was renamed the Premier League. A huge financial collapse around 2000 saw Leeds United relegated to the Championship in 2004.

Bet on Leeds United

Leading sportsbooks offer betting markets on Leeds United every matchday of the football season. The long football campaign provides bettors the opportunity to wager on the Yorkshire-based club in a variety of ways. Bettors can wager on Leeds United as the outright winner of the Premier League, League Cup, or the FA Cup competition before they kick off each tournament.

There is the opportunity to bet on one-off matches, players, correct scores, goals, and more. Special offers on big games in the league or domestic cup competitions are also available with major bookies. Of course, football bettors love to wager on Leeds United when they play the Premier League’s big teams, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.

Bettors have the chance to select bets on the Super Whites in the transfer market and which player(s) will arrive at the club each transfer window. Bettors can even wager on who will be the next manager to join the Elland Road outfit, if the club decides to make a change. 

Leeds United Players

In 2020-21, Leeds United were one of the Premier League’s most exciting teams to watch. They conceded goals and scored them in nearly equal measure. Marcelo Biesla has some exciting players in the team for the new season including Jack Harrison, Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford, and Raphinha. 

In 2020-21, Leeds United played their first season in the Premier League in 16 years. Bamford scored 17 goals during the campaign to lead the team in goals. Harrison is an exciting player that plays on the wing. He bagged eight goals for the team. While Bamford and Harrison are goal scorers, Phillips is one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League. He helped England reach the Euro 2020 final. 

Leeds United Honours

First Division/Premier League

Champions (3): 1968–69, 1973–74, 1991–92

Second Division/Championship

Champions (4): 1923–24, 1963–64, 1989–90, 2019–20

FA Cup

Winners: 1971–72

EFL Cup

Winners: 1967–68

FA Charity/Community Shield

Winners: 1969, 1992

European Cup/Champions League

Runners-up: 1974–75

UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup

Runners-up: 1972–73

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

Winners: 1967–68, 1970–71

Leeds United All-Time Top Goalscorers

1. Peter Lorimer – 238 goals

2. John Charles – 151 goals

3. Allan Clarke – 187 goals

4. Tom Jennings – 117 goals

5. Billy Bremner – 115 goals 

Leeds United Legends

Leeds United have had some of the best players to grace English football wear the all-white kit. Don Revie, Billy Bremner, and Joe Jordan are three of the greats to play at Elland Road.

More recently, the club had the likes of Eric Cantona, Harry Kewell, and Rio Ferdinand in the ranks. Cantona was the catalyst to Leeds United’s most recent First Division title. It was the final season before the Premier League kicked off. 

Here are just some of the legendary players to have worn the famous white strip over the years:

• Don Revie
• Gordon Steachan
• Peter Lorimer
• Eddie Gray
• Norman Hunter
• Mark Viduka
• Gary McAllister
• lee Bowyer
• Harry Kewell
• Billy Bremner
• John Charles
• Jack Charlton
• Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
• Nigel Martyn
• Lucas Radebe
• Allan Clarke
• Vinnie Jones
• David Batty
• Tony Yeboha
• Gary Speed
• Rio Ferdinand

Leeds United Managers 

No manager has done more for Leeds United than Don Revie. The former Leeds United player became manager in 1961 and set out to transform the club. Revie altered everything about the way the club worked and even gave them the iconic white home strip. Howard Wilkinson is arguably the club’s second-greatest managers.

Wilkinson joined the club in 1988 and oversaw a Second Division title in 1989-90 and the team’s last First Divisions championship in 1991-92.