Leeds United

Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. The club's home ground is Elland Road. The club's most common nicknames are "The Whites" and "The Peacocks", the latter stemming from the former name of Elland Road, The Old Peacock Ground. Although the club's name includes "AFC", the current badge reads "LUFC". The club have competed at the top level of English football for the majority of their existence, following the disbanding of predecessor Leeds City in 1919. Under the management of Don Revie during the 1960s and 1970s, Leeds won two First Division titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup twice. After Revie's departure to manage the England team, Leeds were relegated to the Second Division in 1982, not returning to the top flight until 1990, when they were managed by Howard Wilkinson. Leeds were league champions two seasons later, in 1992. During the 1990s and early 2000s Leeds competed for places in Europe, reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League in consecutive seasons. However, after severe financial difficulties and a mass sale of players, Leeds were relegated from the Premier League and subsequently from The Championship three years later. After three seasons in League One they were promoted back to the Championship on the last day of the 2009–10 season. Being the city's only professional football team, Leeds United are associated with a large, passionate fan base. Recent online research indicates that they are in the top 10 most supported clubs in England.

2010–present: Return to The Championship

Leeds began the 2010–11 season in the Championship after ending a run of spiralling down the divisions. Long serving players such as Rui Marques and Casper Ankergren were released. Jermaine Beckford, Leeds' top scorer in the last three seasons, had his contract cancelled before he joined Premier League club Everton. Leeds, however, did make something of a transfer coup when they signed highly rated goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, son of the legendary Peter. Leeds moved for a replacement for Jermaine Beckford when they signed Swindon striker Billy Paynter after his contract had expired: Paynter had scored 29 goals in the previous season, one more than Beckford in the last League One campaign. Pre-season was marred when Patrick Kisnorbo suffered a ruptured achilles tendon, ruling him out of the first few months of the league campaign. Leeds brought in right-back and former Derby County captain Paul Connolly, and later made their fourth summer signing by bringing in Swansea left-back Fede Bessone, who, like Luciano Becchio, had trained at Barcelona earlier in his career. Two new players later joined when the Whites re-signed Neill Collins from Preston for an undisclosed fee following his earlier loan spell; he was followed by Leeds-born winger Lloyd Sam, signed on a free transfer from Charlton. Simon Grayson's seventh signing saw the versatile Alex Bruce join from Ipswich Town for an undisclosed fee. Leeds completed their pre-season campaign on 31 July with an encouraging 3–1 win over Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road. Leeds' eighth signing came in the form of winger Sanchez Watt, who re-joined the club on loan after an impressive loan spell from Arsenal the previous season. The 9th signing of the summer was completed on 6 August when Leeds signed midfielder Adam Clayton on loan from Manchester City. Leeds lost their opening league fixture 2–1 against Derby County on 7 August at Elland Road, the game was the first opening day fixture the Whites had lost for 21 years. The first point of the league campaign came in the match against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground with a 1–1 draw. Leeds picked up their first win in the Championship by beating rivals Millwall 3–1 at Elland Road, with South African striker Davide Somma scoring twice on his league debut. Leeds brought in the 11th and 12th signings of the season by bringing in Cardiff City striker Ross McCormack and Honduran trialist Ramón Núñez. Adam Clayton's loan move was made permanent for an unisclosed fee from Manchester City. On 9 September, Leeds signed Senegalese International Amdy Faye on a free transfer after a short trial. After Kasper Schmeichel picked up an ankle injury Leeds signed Jason Brown on loan from Blackburn Rovers to provide cover. On 23 September, Northern Ireland international George McCartney followed on an initial month loan deal from Sunderland. At the start of December Leeds found themselves challenging in and around the playoff spots. Leeds were also drawn against Arsenal F.C. in the FA Cup to be played at the Emirates Stadium live on ITV on 8 January 2011. On Christmas Day 2010 Leeds were lying 2nd in The Championship. The day also coincided with the 2 year anniversary of the appointment of Simon Grayson. 8 December Leeds managed to earn a draw against Arsenal F.C., Leeds were 1–0 up when Robert Snodgrass scored a second half penalty, Arsenal F.C. equalised in the 90th minute when Cesc Fabregas scored a penalty. In the FA Cup replay vs Arsenal, Leeds were knocked out of the Cup when Arsenal beat them 3–1 in front of a full house at Elland Road. With Samir Nasri, Bacary Sagna and Robin Van Persie scoring the goals. Leeds' midfielder Bradley Johnson scored a wonder goal for Leeds to pull a goal back.
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League: League One
Founded: 1919
Nicknames: The Whites, United, the Peacocks
Stadium: Elland Road
Chairman: Ken Bates
Manager: Gary McAllister
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Championship »

28 Apr 12

Leeds 1-2 Leicester

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League R GP GD Pts
Championship 9 27 5 42

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