Over the past 20 years, Leeds United has seen many players come and go and achieve great things.
Leeds, who were formerly the best in English football, are now merely one of many clubs that serve as stepping stones for the wealthiest members of Europe’s elite.
Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips are two recent examples. Leeds, a Premier League team at the time, pursued transfers to Manchester City and Barcelona, where they each took home a few championships. Nevertheless, this summer, the former might be returning to Elland Road.
Leeds used to lose important players to teams who just shouldn’t have been able to afford them, going all the way back to Phillips and Raphinha, and maybe even further.
Within a few years, Norwich City signed Leeds players Bradley Johnson, Jonny Howson, Robert Snodgrass, and Luciano Becchio. That served as Leeds’ League One promotion squad’s skeleton.
Leeds had to wait ten years after rising from League One to return to the Premier League since they lost those players for such a small salary. Even yet, Marcelo Bielsa’s appointment as a special manager was the deciding factor.
After Leeds was promoted from the third division, there was a moment when it appeared that Simon Grayson’s team would win both titles.
As it happened, Leeds finished in seventh place, just outside the play-offs, largely because Ken Bates chose not to invest in a defence that was incredibly vulnerable.
Kasper Schmeichel, who was bought from Notts County in the summer before promotion, was the man assigned to play behind that back four.
Schmeichel left Leeds after just one season, despite having a strong debut season. He then joined Leicester City, a Championship team, where he went on to win the FA Cup and Premier League.
Schmeichel has now opened up about his time at Leeds and the reasons behind his departure, noting a specific chant from the crowd regarding his Dad Peter, a former Manchester United player, in an interview with the “Rest Is Football Podcast.”
“It’s unfortunate that I didn’t enjoy my time at Leeds, as it’s an amazing club,” he remarked. I believe it was the wrong person, location, and time.
“I felt at the time that some of the things that were said about my dad were really insulting, and I was a very immature person.
“Look, I recognize that there is rivalry. Even if you claim I’m okay, it won’t make me feel better if you keep calling my Dad horrible names.
They used to sing a chant that went, “Your Dad is something, but I’m okay. I won’t repeat the word.” Even though I’m older now and understand the humor, it will never set right with me that you’re contacting my father.
“We had a respectable season, finishing just outside of the playoffs, but the manager accused me of giving up too many goals during my two-month injury layoff, and I believe they lost those games 7–4. 6-0 and 5-0.
Leeds was forced to accept the Schmeichel money.
As was previously established, Leeds had a habit of selling their top players for a steep discount during that time, and Schmeichel was no exception.
Despite his ups and downs during his one season at Elland Road, the Danish goalkeeper was only 25 years old when he was moved.
Given some of the confidence challenges he still faces, Leeds’ current goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who is only 24 years old, demonstrates how much potential there is for goalkeepers at that age.
Transfermarkt reports that Leeds paid Leicester barely £1.4 million for Schmeichel, a sum that was insufficient to compensate him for his skill or potential.
Leeds should be ashamed of themselves for letting him go so cheaply, considering what he went on to accomplish at Leicester and the length of his career.
