Greatest Leeds United Players In The Club’s History

greatest-leeds-united-players

The greatest Leeds United players are some of the most famous footballers ever to grace the English Premier League.

Leeds’s best players stood out not only as individuals but as team players who have managed to take their club to victory.

So, let’s find out the names of the greatest Leeds United players of all time!

Top 10 Best Leeds United Players of All Time

10. Nigel Martyn

source: transfermarkt
  • Leeds United career: 207 appearances
  • Position: Goalkeeper

Nigel Martyn has been part of The Whites team from 1966 to 2003.

He was signed by manager Howard Wilkinson and proved his value by leading the team to be one of the last 4 in the UEFA Champions League after eliminating top names like Barcelona FC and SS Lazio.

To this day, he is considered the most outstanding goalkeeper that Leeds United has ever had.

9. Gordon Strachan

  • Leeds United career: 37 goals, 197 appearances
  • Position: Midfielder

Throughout his extensive career, Gordon Strachan has proven his skills at one of the club’s biggest rivals Manchester United.

After a couple of disagreements with Sir Alex Ferguson, Strachan was signed to Leeds United for £200,000, where he played from 1989 to 1995.

He even managed to get his revenge against Sir Alex Ferguson after Leeds beat Manchester United in 1992’s Premier League season. 

Related: How much is each Premier League position worth

8. Norman Hunter

source: BBC
  • Leeds United career: 21 goals, 726 appearances
  • Position: Centre-Back

Norman Hunter’s contract with one of the most successful English teams lasted from 1962 to 1976.

He had a strong track record, appearing in all 42 league games in five seasons and playing 50 or more games for nine seasons.

Hunter was named “Bites Yer Legs” because he was very aggressive, putting everything on the line for his team’s defence.  

7. Allan Clarke

source: leedslive
  • Leeds United career: 110 goals, 273 appearances
  • Position: Striker

Clarke played for Leeds United from 1969 to 1978 and was purchased for a record amount – £165,000.

He scored 26 goals in his first season at Leeds and earned the nickname “Sniffer” due to his sharp sense of finding the goalie’s net.

Clarke was one of Leeds’s top scorers as the team won the league championships in 1974, featuring 29 opening matches without a loss.

Related: What is the wage bill of Leeds United?

6. Johnny Giles

source: independent
  • Leeds United career: 88 goals, 383 appearances
  • Position: Midfielder

Don Revie, one of Leeds United’s iconic managers, made Johnny Giles shine in the team’s colours from 1963 to 1975.

Giles was considered a penalty expert whenever Leeds had to go to penalty shootouts. 

Revie admired his leadership skills so much that he appointed Giles to manage England’s national football team. 

5. Jack Charlton

source: skynews
  • Leeds United career: 70 goals, 629 appearances
  • Position: Centre-Back

Leeds fans are one of the craziest football fans and they can’t talk about their favourite players of all time without mentioning Jack Charlton.

He was also one of the most important players of England’s 1966 World Cup National squad.

However, he played his entire career for Leeds United, from 1952 to 1973, scoring an impressive number of goals.

Charlton helped the club to win many titles, among which the Second Division, First Division and FA Cup are the most significant ones.

Related: Best retired players

4. John Charles

source: BBC
  • Leeds United career: 157 goals, 297 appearances 
  • Position: Centre-Forward

Rare are the ones to score as many goals as John Charles did during his career. He played for one of the most successful teams in Europe, Leeds United, from 1949 to 1957.

His nickname was the “Gentle Giant,” or how Italians would call him “Il Gigante Buono.” He believed in non-violence and sports ethics so much. So, Charles was never sent off with a red card throughout his career.

3. Eddie Gray

source: theguardian
  • Leeds United career: 52 goals, 454 appearances 
  • Position: Winger

Between 1966 and 1983, Eddie Gray made a significant impact for Leeds United. 

As a top scorer, his most impressive achievement is the backheel he pulled off against Burnley, passing several players on his way to placing the ball in the goalie’s net. 

Gray has been one of the Greatest Leeds United players since he was voted third in 2000. In 2013 he was appointed Leeds United Football Ambassador.

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2. Peter Lorimer

source: leedslive
  • Leeds United career: 168 goals, 526 appearances 
  • Position: Midfielder

The all-time leading top scorer, Peter Lorimer, played for Leeds United in two periods. The first time was from 1962–1979, and the second was from 1983–1985.


He became one of the most beloved footballers in the club’s history at Elland Road Stadium.

Leeds United’s fans called him the “Lash” since his legendary goal at a speed of 90 mph.

1. Billy Bremner

source: nfm
  • Leeds United career: 91 goals, 587 appearances 
  • Position: Midfielder

If you ask anyone who is the greatest Leeds United player of all time, 9 out of 10 times, you will hear about “King Billy” Bremmer. He played for the team from 1960 to 1976.

Billy Bremmer was the team’s captain all through the ‘60s and ‘70s, and he is regarded as one of the best English players ever. 

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Conclusion

There is plenty to talk about when it comes to Leeds United. It is a football club with a long and rich history in the most popular sport.

Thus being one of the greatest Leed United players is also equal to being designated as one of the best footballers in the English Premier League.

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