Leeds Legends continues....

Eric Cantona

Eric Cantona first started his football career with French outfit of Olympic Marseille FC. However, Cantona could not get on well with his own country, after being branded "hothead" for his diabolical reputation. In 1992, he arrived on trial period with Sheffield, but later, he joined Leeds United FC five days later in the month of February. As an attacking midfielder, playing in a central role behind the strikers, he was also known as a playmaker. By the following May, Leeds had won their very first League title in 18 years, mainly due to Cantona's influence in the game the Whites had played. However, in November in the very same year, he had left Leeds United to join rivals Manchester United, and went on to win more honours with the Red Devils. However, his name still remains in Elland Road as a legend, eventhough his playing spells were short due to the carelessness of the then manager who let such a talent walk out of Leeds!

Gordon Strachan

After a fantastic career at Aberdeen, in which he'd picked up a Championship medal in 1980 and again in 1984, 3 Scottish Cup medals, a European Cup-Winners Cup medal and the Player of the Year award, he joined Manchester United. He cemented his place as a regular in the Scottish national side in the early 1980s, but by 1989 he wasn't getting on with the management and at the age of 31, found his future prospects limited at Old Trafford.

One of the bargain signings of all time, Gordon Strachan was picked up from Manchester United by Howard Wilkinson and was instrumental in the side winning promotion and - just two years later - the title. He was voted in as Footballer of the Year in 1991 as Leeds consolidated in their first season back in the top flight, and the following season he topped it all by lifting the Championship as captain of Leeds.

Gary McAllister

The experienced Scottish international began his career with Motherwell FC of Scottish Premier League. When McAllister left his native Scotland it was to join Leicester City, whom he served with distinction for five years before making a £1 million switch to Leeds United in 1990. At Elland Road he won a championship medal in 1992 and established himself as a regular in the Scottish national side. He captained the Scots in Euro 96 but is unfortunately best remembered for missing a vital penalty in the crucial group clash with the auld enemy England.He left Leeds to sign for Coventry in a £3 million deal and during four years at Highfield Road played a prominent role in helping the Sky Blues maintain their top-flight status. At 36 he was considered surplus to requirements and allowed to leave on a Bosman. That is where Liverpool stepped in. However, he only played for Liverpool for just one season, having won 5 medals in Worthington Cup, English FA Cup, UEFA Cup, European SuperCup, and Charity Shield with them. Now, he is back at Highfield Road with Coventry City as player-manager for a season, with a view to be a full-time manager there.

John Lukic

Lukic began his career as an associate schoolboy at Elland Road in 1975. After his debut in October 1979, the Chesterfield-born goalkeeper went on to play 146 consecutive games for Leeds, a club record. In 1983 he moved to Arsenal, where he helped them win the League Cup in 1987 and the League Championship in 1988-89, a season in which he was ever-present. David Seaman's arrival signified the end of Lukic's career at Arsenal, and in 1990 he returned to Leeds in a £1 million deal. The 1991-92 season was an imitation of the 1988-89 season for Lukic, as, once again an ever-present, he helped Leeds to their first Championship triumph for 18 years. Lukic ended his second spell with Arsenal in the summer of 2001, bowing out of top flight football after a memorable final season with the Gunners in which he tasted Champions League football. With over 400 appearances for Leeds, Lukic holds the distinction of being the only post-war goalkeeper to have won the League title with two different sides.

Eddie Gray

The winger played 559 games for Leeds between 1965 and 1983 and was capped by his country 12 times. He was never a proven goalscorer, but his flair and ability to weave through defences provided many an opportunity for forward colleagues. In the summer of 1982 he became manager of the club. It is often difficult to make the transition from player to manager. Gray produced some attractive sides at Leeds, but sadly they were not successful. In October 1985, there was quite an uproar among some Leeds fans when he was sacked. However, when David O'Leary took charge of Leeds in 1998, he brought Gray back into Leeds as an assistant manager, a post that Gray is assuming until today.

Allan Clarke

Nick-named the "Sniffer", Clarke was signed by Don Revie for a British record fee of £165,000 from relegated Leicester in 1969 to build on the strength of Revie's first championship-winning squad. "Who put the ball in the Arsenal net?" is the question: in May 1972, the answer was most definitely "Allan Allan Clarke", his powerful header being the only score in the FA Cup Final. Clarke was a strong and skilful player and his tally of just 19 caps for England is a shamefully low count for a man who was top scorer with one of the leading clubs in England for four seasons. He linked up with Mick Jones to form the most formidable front line of the early 1970s, and with the addition of "Hot-shot" Lorimer's goals, he provided the powerhouse that drove Leeds on to win so many games. With his best years as a player behind him, he joined Barnsley as player-manager in 1978 and his efforts in leading them to promotion stood him in good stead when Leeds came looking for somebody to reinvigorate an aging side in 1980. Sadly, Clarke failed to turn the team around and with Leeds relegated, he resigned. Altogether, Allan Clarke made 366 appearances for Leeds United FC as a player, having played from 1st June 1978 until 31st August 1980. During that time, Clarke scored a total of 151 goals.

Vinnie Jones

One of the most colourful and controversial players ever to play the game, Vinnie Jones enjoyed two very successful spells with club in a chequered career spanning 12 years. Often on the back pages for the wrong reasons, Jones was sent off no fewer than five times in his Wimbledon career, and often he never received the credit he deserved as the midfield Kingpin in the FA Cup winning side. Left the Dons a year after the Wembley triumph to join then Second Division Leeds where he helped them to promotion to the First Division before linking up with former boss Dave Bassett at Sheffield United in 1990. Vinnie ended his sojourn in the north by returning to London to sign for Chelsea where he enjoyed two seasons at Stamford Bridge before returning ‘home’ in October 1992.Vinnie did not make the most auspicious start to his his league debut against Nottingham Forest at Plough Lane in 1986 after signing from non-league Wealdstone, giving away a penalty in a 3-2 defeat by Brian Clough’s side. Anyway, eventhough his playing days have made him a living legend now, all is over for Jones in the football world as he already has his boots hung up and settled himself into entertainment world instead.