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Big moments. Local heroes.

Leeds UnitedFootball Club

The highs. The heartbreak.
The people who made it.
This is their story.

Founded
1919
Known as
The Whites
Home turf
Elland Road
From
West Yorkshire
The long read

More than a scoreline.

From local beginnings to the big occasions. This is Leeds United.

An introductory history of the men’s first team, from the club’s origins through 2020. Selected turning points and honours, rather than a complete season archive; later results are outside this edition.

A fresh club at Elland Road

Leeds United were formed in 1919 after Leeds City had been expelled from the Football League. Supporters gathered to establish a new professional club. United kept Elland Road as home, but Leeds City’s earlier results belong to that separate club. Source →

Revie changes the expectations

Don Revie became player-manager in 1961. His approach to youth development, preparation and team spirit helped transform Leeds. Promotion in 1964 was followed by sustained challenges for major honours, rather than an isolated successful season. Source →

Trophies and near misses

Leeds won the League Cup and Fairs Cup in 1968, then their first league title in 1969. The FA Cup followed in 1972 and another championship in 1974. In 1975 they reached the European Cup final, losing to Bayern Munich. Source →

Another title, then a long return

Howard Wilkinson’s team won the 1991–92 First Division championship. Later financial and sporting difficulties took Leeds down to the third tier. The 2019–20 Championship title restored Premier League football, ending a sixteen-year absence from the top division. Source →

The moments that mattered

Through the years.

  1. 1919

    A new Leeds club

    Supporters establish United after Leeds City’s expulsion. [source]

  2. 1961

    Revie takes charge

    Don Revie becomes player-manager. [source]

  3. 1968–69

    First championship

    Leeds win the First Division. [source]

  4. 1972

    FA Cup winners

    Leeds beat Arsenal at Wembley. [source]

  5. 1991–92

    Champions again

    A third top-flight league title. [source]

  6. 2019–20

    The Premier League return

    Leeds win the Championship. [source]

Home turf

More than a ground.

Elland Road

Leeds United began playing at Elland Road in 1919. Leeds City had used the ground before them, but the two clubs are distinct organisations.

Read the ground’s history ↗
Club characters

The people behind it.

A few figures from the milestones in this introduction.

Building a leading side

Don Revie

Transformed Leeds after his 1961 appointment.

Read the source ↗
The 1992 champions

Howard Wilkinson

Managed the club to its third league championship.

Read the source ↗
In the trophy cabinet

Reasons to celebrate.

Selected senior honours and promotions. Competition records ↗

First Division

Champions
1968–69, 1973–74, 1991–92

FA Cup

Winners
1971–72

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

Winners
1967–68, 1970–71

Championship

Champions
2019–20
Behind the story

Good stories.
Proper sources.

Written in our own words, with links back to the records. Last reviewed .

  1. MyLearning · Leeds Museums and Galleries

    Leeds United: history and origins ↗

    Background to the club, its identity and the people in this introduction.

  2. Football Club History Database · Richard Rundle

    Leeds United: competition record ↗

    Competition records; the honours below are a selection within this page’s stated period.

  3. Leeds United

    Albert Johanneson and Revie’s appointment ↗

    The 1961 appointment and early development of Revie’s team.

A growing record

Our first chapter is an introduction, not an exhaustive archive. We credit existing research and will expand the collection as more material is checked. Our editorial approach ↗

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