100for100 - Greatest LUFC Players 25-21
24 Apr 2019 06:58 am, 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 30-26 included; Rio Ferdinand, Trevor Cherry, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, John Sheridan and Lee Bowyer. Now we bring you players 25 to 21...
25) Gary Speed (1988-1996)
Country: Wales | DOB: 08/09/1969 | Position: Midfielder | Apps: 311 | Goals: 57
Born 1969, Gary Speed joined Leeds straight from school in 1987. A Welsh Youth International, he got his first team chance after he scored in 12 consecutive Northern Intermediate League games. After one appearance for the first team he was called into the Welsh full squad for whom he appeared 34 times whilst at Leeds. He excelled in Uniteds' championship winning team when his forays down the left and his ability in the air brought him , and others, plenty of goals. He made 291 full and 20 substitute appearances scoring 57 goals before moving to Everton for £3.4m in 1996. He later moved to Newcastle United and a testament to his longevity and freedom from serious injury was that Gary held the record for most appearances of any outfield player in the EPL, long after his retirement. We sadly lost Gary to suicide in November 2011 but he will always be remembered fondly by all football fans, not just of the teams he played for. He was my hero.
Read more about Gary Speed on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
24) Lee Chapman (1990-1996)
Country: England | DOB: 05/12/1959 | Position: Forward | Apps: 174 | Goals: 80
Born Lincoln in 1959, he began his professional career with Stoke City in 1978, where he once recorded a hat-trick against Leeds, showing early promise in winning an England under 23 cap. After establishing himself at Stoke, his career faltered and he played with Arsenal, and Sunderland before Howard Wilkinson took him to Sheffield Wednesday in 1984. He netted 69 goals in 149 games for the Owls before taking on an unsuccessful sample of French football, which quickly saw him return to England with Nottingham Forest, where he won League Cup and Zenith Cup winner's medals. He joined Leeds in 1990 and led them to the Second Division and First Division Championships in quick succession. He played 171 games and scored 80 goals. He left in 1993 but returned for a short loan spell in 1996.
Read more about Lee Chapman on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
23) Tony Currie (1976-1979)
Country: England | DOB: 01/01/1950 | Position: Midfielder | Apps: 124 | Goals: 16
Born in Edgeware, London in 1950. Tony Currie was the nearest thing Leeds has to fill the Bremner, Giles combination. His delicate skills and passing ability saw him win 11 of his 17 caps for England while a Leeds player. He was sold by Sheffield United to Leeds in 1976 and Currie maintained his star status at Elland Road, adding consistently to his talents. For two season he was a regular in the England squad but could not add domestic honours. He played 123 games for Leeds and scored 25 goals.
Read more about Tony Currie on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
22) Tony Yeboah (1995-1997)
Country: Ghana | DOB: 06/06/1966 | Position: Forward | Apps: 62 | Goals: 33
Born Ghana 1966, few strikers have made such an explosive impact as Tony Yeboah. Outside the Bundesliga few had heard of the Ghanaian's goal power, but it did not take long for him to take English Football by storm with a series of spectacular goals. Leeds shattered the club's transfer record in paying Eintracht Frankfurt £3.4m in early 1995. He soon picked up the pace with 13 goals in his first 16 games. His goals ensured a UEFA Cup place and he did not disappoint in Europe when a virtuoso performance netted him an hat-trick at Monaco. This was followed quickly by another hat-trick at Wimbledon. It included a blistering shot shot which was only surpasses by a match winning volley against Liverpool, which earned him the goal of the year award. Winner of the Leeds player of the year award in 1996 he made 55 full and 4 substitute appearances and netted 32 goals.
Read more about Tony Yeboah on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
21) Bobby Collins (1962-1967)
Country: Scotland | DOB: 16/02/1931 | Position: Midfielder | Apps: 167 | Goals: 25
Small in stature, but huge in standing amongst United's galaxy of greats, Collins was the platform on which manager Don Revie launched his great sides. Revie paid £25,000 to Everton in March 1962 for the 31 year old former Scottish international, who went on to lift a mediocre club out of the depths of Division Two to one of the most successful in Europe. He captained Leeds to the Second Division title in 1963-64 and the following season was voted footballer of the year as Leeds came close to a League and Cup double. He was capped 31 times for Scottland.
Read more about Bobby Collins on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
For the full 100 players check out our 100 Greatest Ever Leeds Players...
25) Gary Speed (1988-1996)
Country: Wales | DOB: 08/09/1969 | Position: Midfielder | Apps: 311 | Goals: 57
Born 1969, Gary Speed joined Leeds straight from school in 1987. A Welsh Youth International, he got his first team chance after he scored in 12 consecutive Northern Intermediate League games. After one appearance for the first team he was called into the Welsh full squad for whom he appeared 34 times whilst at Leeds. He excelled in Uniteds' championship winning team when his forays down the left and his ability in the air brought him , and others, plenty of goals. He made 291 full and 20 substitute appearances scoring 57 goals before moving to Everton for £3.4m in 1996. He later moved to Newcastle United and a testament to his longevity and freedom from serious injury was that Gary held the record for most appearances of any outfield player in the EPL, long after his retirement. We sadly lost Gary to suicide in November 2011 but he will always be remembered fondly by all football fans, not just of the teams he played for. He was my hero.
Read more about Gary Speed on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
24) Lee Chapman (1990-1996)
Country: England | DOB: 05/12/1959 | Position: Forward | Apps: 174 | Goals: 80
Born Lincoln in 1959, he began his professional career with Stoke City in 1978, where he once recorded a hat-trick against Leeds, showing early promise in winning an England under 23 cap. After establishing himself at Stoke, his career faltered and he played with Arsenal, and Sunderland before Howard Wilkinson took him to Sheffield Wednesday in 1984. He netted 69 goals in 149 games for the Owls before taking on an unsuccessful sample of French football, which quickly saw him return to England with Nottingham Forest, where he won League Cup and Zenith Cup winner's medals. He joined Leeds in 1990 and led them to the Second Division and First Division Championships in quick succession. He played 171 games and scored 80 goals. He left in 1993 but returned for a short loan spell in 1996.
Read more about Lee Chapman 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.
23) Tony Currie (1976-1979)
Country: England | DOB: 01/01/1950 | Position: Midfielder | Apps: 124 | Goals: 16
Born in Edgeware, London in 1950. Tony Currie was the nearest thing Leeds has to fill the Bremner, Giles combination. His delicate skills and passing ability saw him win 11 of his 17 caps for England while a Leeds player. He was sold by Sheffield United to Leeds in 1976 and Currie maintained his star status at Elland Road, adding consistently to his talents. For two season he was a regular in the England squad but could not add domestic honours. He played 123 games for Leeds and scored 25 goals.
Read more about Tony Currie on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
22) Tony Yeboah (1995-1997)
Country: Ghana | DOB: 06/06/1966 | Position: Forward | Apps: 62 | Goals: 33
Born Ghana 1966, few strikers have made such an explosive impact as Tony Yeboah. Outside the Bundesliga few had heard of the Ghanaian's goal power, but it did not take long for him to take English Football by storm with a series of spectacular goals. Leeds shattered the club's transfer record in paying Eintracht Frankfurt £3.4m in early 1995. He soon picked up the pace with 13 goals in his first 16 games. His goals ensured a UEFA Cup place and he did not disappoint in Europe when a virtuoso performance netted him an hat-trick at Monaco. This was followed quickly by another hat-trick at Wimbledon. It included a blistering shot shot which was only surpasses by a match winning volley against Liverpool, which earned him the goal of the year award. Winner of the Leeds player of the year award in 1996 he made 55 full and 4 substitute appearances and netted 32 goals.
Read more about Tony Yeboah on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
21) Bobby Collins (1962-1967)
Country: Scotland | DOB: 16/02/1931 | Position: Midfielder | Apps: 167 | Goals: 25
Small in stature, but huge in standing amongst United's galaxy of greats, Collins was the platform on which manager Don Revie launched his great sides. Revie paid £25,000 to Everton in March 1962 for the 31 year old former Scottish international, who went on to lift a mediocre club out of the depths of Division Two to one of the most successful in Europe. He captained Leeds to the Second Division title in 1963-64 and the following season was voted footballer of the year as Leeds came close to a League and Cup double. He was capped 31 times for Scottland.
Read more about Bobby Collins on Oz Whites fantastic Leeds United FC History website.
For the full 100 players check out our 100 Greatest Ever Leeds Players...
