100for100 - Greatest LUFC Players 35-31
12 Apr 2019 08:19 pm, by YorkshireSquare
Back in 2005 we compiled a list of the 100 Greatest Leeds Players Ever. Over 164 players were nominated to give us our final 100 but in the time that has passed since 2005 nearly 200 more players have donned the white shirt of Leeds United. It has not been a period of glory for Leeds United but there have been some stand out players who deserve to be added to the list. Some of those who were fresh in the memory when the initial vote was taken may have faded in the memories over the years and some players may no be looked on with greater fondness. As such we have updated the 100 Greatest Leeds United Players Ever in time for our centenary year and give you our 100for100. Players 40-36 included; Vinnie Jones, Olivier Dacourt, Alan Smith, Gordon McQueen and Joe Jordan. Now we bring you players 35 to 31...
35) Mel Sterland (1989-1993)
Country: England | DOB: 01/10/1961 | Position: Defender | Apps: 146 | Goals: 20
Born Sheffield 1961, he joined his home club Wednesday and turned professional in 1979. He played a key role in their 1984 promotion to the top flight. He gained 7 under 21 and a "B" cap before his sole England cap in 1988. He was sold for a club record £800,000 to Glasgow Rangers in 1989 where he won a League Championship medal before rejoining his former Manager Howard Wilkinson at Leeds for £600,000 the same year. Dubbed "Zico" by the fans because of his ability to score spectacular goals, his dynamic runs down the right and booming crosses brought many goals for Lee Chapman as Leeds swept firstly to the Second Division title and later to First Division Championship in the space of three years. Injuries took their toll and he retired in 1994 after 143 starts and 20 goals.
Read more about Mel Sterland on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
34) Dominic Matteo (2000-2004)
Country: Scotland | DOB: 24/04/1974 | Position: Defender | Apps: 146 | Goals: 4
Born Dumfries in 1974. Capped at England Under-21 and 'B' levels. He made his Scotland debut in 2000. His versatility saw him fill numerous roles for the both Leeds and Liverpool, including midfield and central defensive spots, coaches believed that his best position was at left-back. A good range of passing and the skill and confidence to take opponents on led Leeds signing him for £4.25m. He debuted against AC Milan in the Champions League, then netted his first Leeds goal against Besiktas. He was handed the captaincy for the 2002/03 season and signed a new, extended contract. However, he was not able to save Leeds United from the drop in 2003/04, despite a number of committed performances in both defence and midfield, moving on to Blackburn Rovers at the end of the season.
Read more about Dominic Matteo on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
33) Albert Johanneson (1961-1970)
Country: South Africa | DOB: 13/03/1940 | Position: Forward | Apps: 200 | Goals: 68
A member of Don Revie's great Leeds side 'The Black Flash' was seen as something of a luxury player, but still mesmerised opposing teams with his dancing runs down the wing. He was the first black player to appear in an F.A. Cup Final, in 1965 against Liverpool, but in most games he was the victim of deliberate and dangerous fouling by desperate defenders. His resulting injuries led to a lack of confidence and the emergence of Eddie Gray meant he struggled to fulfil his potential, before leaving Leeds in 1970 and moving on to York. After two years there he retired into obscurity, suffering health and drink problems and in 1995 died alone, aged 53, in a Gledhow bedsit, in Leeds.
Read more about Albert Johanneson in our full Player Profile page.
32) Jonathan Woodgate (1997-2003)
Country: England | DOB: 22/01/1980 | Position: Defender | Apps: 142 | Goals: 4
He joined the club at the age of 13 and was part of the side that won the FA Youth Cup in 1997, moving to the first team regularly in 1998. His aerial abilities, combative nature and calmness on the ball led to him being earmarked as an England regular of the future. Indeed his superb first season was capped by a call up from Kevin Keegan to the full England squad at the tender age of 19. He had a wonderful 1999/2000 season until events off the pitch saw his form understandably dip. He agreed a new contract with Leeds in the summer of 2002 that would keep him at Elland Road for five years. Woodgate served nearly three years of suspension from international duty due to his court case. Woodgate moved to Newcastle in January 2003 and only 20 months later secured a move to Real Madrid.
Read more about Jonathan Woodgate on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
31) David Harvey (1965-1985)
Country: Scotland | DOB: 07/02/1948 | Position: Goalkeeper | Apps: 446 | Goals: 0
Born Leeds in 1948, he joined United in 1965 and such was the brilliance of Gary Sprake that he had to make about 200 Central league appearances before establishing himself as a first team regular and gaining a FA Cup winners medal in 1972. His career took off and he was capped 16 times for Scotland, his father was Scottish, and he was rated the best goalkeeper in the 1974 World Cup. A bad car accident in early 1975 saw him temporarily lose his place to David Stewart, who took his place in the Scottish team and in the European Cup Final. He regain his place, but he joined Vancouver Whitecaps in 1980. He returned to Leeds in 1983 before finally leaving in 1985. His 445 appearances is all the more remarkable when considering his many games for the Reserves.
Read more about David Harvey on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
For the full 100 players check out our 100 Greatest Ever Leeds Players...
35) Mel Sterland (1989-1993)
Country: England | DOB: 01/10/1961 | Position: Defender | Apps: 146 | Goals: 20
Born Sheffield 1961, he joined his home club Wednesday and turned professional in 1979. He played a key role in their 1984 promotion to the top flight. He gained 7 under 21 and a "B" cap before his sole England cap in 1988. He was sold for a club record £800,000 to Glasgow Rangers in 1989 where he won a League Championship medal before rejoining his former Manager Howard Wilkinson at Leeds for £600,000 the same year. Dubbed "Zico" by the fans because of his ability to score spectacular goals, his dynamic runs down the right and booming crosses brought many goals for Lee Chapman as Leeds swept firstly to the Second Division title and later to First Division Championship in the space of three years. Injuries took their toll and he retired in 1994 after 143 starts and 20 goals.
Read more about Mel Sterland on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
34) Dominic Matteo (2000-2004)
Country: Scotland | DOB: 24/04/1974 | Position: Defender | Apps: 146 | Goals: 4
Born Dumfries in 1974. Capped at England Under-21 and 'B' levels. He made his Scotland debut in 2000. His versatility saw him fill numerous roles for the both Leeds and Liverpool, including midfield and central defensive spots, coaches believed that his best position was at left-back. A good range of passing and the skill and confidence to take opponents on led Leeds signing him for £4.25m. He debuted against AC Milan in the Champions League, then netted his first Leeds goal against Besiktas. He was handed the captaincy for the 2002/03 season and signed a new, extended contract. However, he was not able to save Leeds United from the drop in 2003/04, despite a number of committed performances in both defence and midfield, moving on to Blackburn Rovers at the end of the season.
Read more about Dominic Matteo on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
All White: Leeds United's 100 Greatest Players
By Jon Howe and Andrew Dalton
For a different perspective on the 100 greatest Leeds players of all time check out All White by Jon Howe and Andrew Dalton. A celebration of Leeds United's greatest 100 players. Definitive and official, All White offers a perspective on the history of the club, combining stories and expert insights into the players with telling facts and statistics. From Bremner and Batty, Chapman and Charles to Smudger and Sniffer, the book gives a real sense of how these heroic, combative, iconic characters could affect the moods and the lives of fans over the decades - all contributing to the rollercoaster drama that is pure Leeds.
33) Albert Johanneson (1961-1970)
Country: South Africa | DOB: 13/03/1940 | Position: Forward | Apps: 200 | Goals: 68
A member of Don Revie's great Leeds side 'The Black Flash' was seen as something of a luxury player, but still mesmerised opposing teams with his dancing runs down the wing. He was the first black player to appear in an F.A. Cup Final, in 1965 against Liverpool, but in most games he was the victim of deliberate and dangerous fouling by desperate defenders. His resulting injuries led to a lack of confidence and the emergence of Eddie Gray meant he struggled to fulfil his potential, before leaving Leeds in 1970 and moving on to York. After two years there he retired into obscurity, suffering health and drink problems and in 1995 died alone, aged 53, in a Gledhow bedsit, in Leeds.
Read more about Albert Johanneson in our full Player Profile page.
32) Jonathan Woodgate (1997-2003)
Country: England | DOB: 22/01/1980 | Position: Defender | Apps: 142 | Goals: 4
He joined the club at the age of 13 and was part of the side that won the FA Youth Cup in 1997, moving to the first team regularly in 1998. His aerial abilities, combative nature and calmness on the ball led to him being earmarked as an England regular of the future. Indeed his superb first season was capped by a call up from Kevin Keegan to the full England squad at the tender age of 19. He had a wonderful 1999/2000 season until events off the pitch saw his form understandably dip. He agreed a new contract with Leeds in the summer of 2002 that would keep him at Elland Road for five years. Woodgate served nearly three years of suspension from international duty due to his court case. Woodgate moved to Newcastle in January 2003 and only 20 months later secured a move to Real Madrid.
Read more about Jonathan Woodgate on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
31) David Harvey (1965-1985)
Country: Scotland | DOB: 07/02/1948 | Position: Goalkeeper | Apps: 446 | Goals: 0
Born Leeds in 1948, he joined United in 1965 and such was the brilliance of Gary Sprake that he had to make about 200 Central league appearances before establishing himself as a first team regular and gaining a FA Cup winners medal in 1972. His career took off and he was capped 16 times for Scotland, his father was Scottish, and he was rated the best goalkeeper in the 1974 World Cup. A bad car accident in early 1975 saw him temporarily lose his place to David Stewart, who took his place in the Scottish team and in the European Cup Final. He regain his place, but he joined Vancouver Whitecaps in 1980. He returned to Leeds in 1983 before finally leaving in 1985. His 445 appearances is all the more remarkable when considering his many games for the Reserves.
Read more about David Harvey on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
For the full 100 players check out our 100 Greatest Ever Leeds Players...
