25/26 Team Overview - Leeds United

The Whites, The Peacocks

Author

nick lochner
August 15, 2025

1919

Leeds United

2024/25 Finish - Promoted

1st in The Championship

Ready For More. A Medium sized club with history, just not recently. Leeds have the pedigree, size and supporters to be in the PL and challenge for Europe. They just haven’t done it in decades.

Staying Up. It seemed the club was back under fan favorite manager Marcelo Bielsa in 2021 when Leeds finished top 10 and earned the most points of a promoted side in twenty years. But the next season was not as successful, the club sacked Bielsa and appointed American Jesse Marsch (now the Canadian National Team Manager) who helped the club avoid relegation on the last day of the season. But a poor start to the next season resulted in the club being relegated to the Championship in 2023. Now they are back. The goal is to stay up this year and then build from there.

Farke. Gaffer Daniel Farke is back for his 3rd season. Farke has PL experience with Norwich City, but it resulted in relegation. His Championship performance the last 2 years has been great for Leeds has been GREAT, 90 and 100 points respectively. Heading into the season it seems he starts on the hot seat as some think he is more suited for the Championship and Leeds should consider a more tested PL manager.

A Blend. Among the recently promoted clubs Leeds seems to be sticking with what got them to the PL in players and style. Yes, they have acquired close to $100M on several players to bolster the squad but they will be playing many of the players who were part of last seasons squad.

The Club

Located in Leeds (North Central England)

Elland Road, 38,000 capacity

Rough estimates

$150M Annual Revenue

$50M Player Payroll

History on the Pitch

  • Highest finish, 1st in 1969, 1974, 1992

  • 1 FA Cup, 1972

  • 0 Europe Cups

Sponsorship

Home

Away

Ownership

49ers Enterprises Global Football Group LLC -The investment arm of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers acquired full ownership in July 2023 from Andrea Radrizzani for $200M.

The York family, led by Denise DeBartolo York leads the group. Minority investors include PGA golfers Jordan Speith and Justin Thomas, NBA player Russell Westbrook, actors Will Farrell and Russell Crowe and Swimmer Michael Phelps.

In May 2024, Red Bull acquired a minority stake and became the shirt sponsor.

Biggest Rival - Man United

War of the Roses

  • A surprising rival, Manchester is the largest city in Lancashire and Leeds in Yorkshire

  • The animosity between fans dates back to the 1400’s and the “War of the Roses” - a civil war to control the throne of England.

  • In the 1960s the rivalry was described as “hostile”, one of the fiercest in world football.

The Culture

Working-class and Yorkshire Pride embody Leeds United. The club see themselves as an underdog, not one of the “wealthier” southern clubs like Man United or Chelsea. The 1960s and 1970s, known as the Don Revie era, was known for being a tough, uncompromising team earning the nickname “Dirty Leeds”. It was also the era of titles for Leeds and intense rivalries.

Leeds United is a “one-club” city which is very unifying compared to Manchester, Liverpool or Birmingham. Support for the club is very generational. To this day there is a “family stand (section)” with affordable junior tickets for $15.

This is a tradition rich, gritty club who is ready for this club to get back to challenging the top of the table. They have the stadium and revenue for it, and now also seem to have ownership that can take them there.

Salem Chapel

In 1919 Leed’s first soccer team was forcibly disbanded for illegal payments to players during WWI. In response, at Salem Chapel, Leeds United was formed taking Leeds City place.

At this time the Peacock Hotel was the gathering place for fans and club officials, across the street from their stadium, Elland Road.

While The Peacock nickname stuck, eventually the team took on the nickname “The Whites” for their all white uniforms. Not unlike Liverpool (The Reds) or Chelsea (The Blues).

Supporters You May Recognize

  • Russell Crowe.

  • Erling Haaland (Yes, City’s), Haaland’s father played for Leeds and Erling grew up there.

Song

Also known as Marching On Together, is an original song written in 1972. Most clubs use a previously written song and put new words to it, not Leeds.

Verse 1 “Here we go with Leeds United, We’re gonna give the boys a hand, Stand up and sing for Leeds United, They are the greatest in the land.

Chorus “Every day, we’re all gonna say, We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds! Everywhere, we’re gonna be there, We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds! Marching on together, We’re gonna see you win, We are so proud, We shout it out loud, We love you Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!.”

In 2012 the Minnesota Twins of MLB adapted the song and replaced “Leeds United” with “Minnesota” and Leeds! Leeds! Leeds! with Twins! Twins! Twins!”

Game Day Pub Guide

Fan Sites

Official X

@LUFC

High Follows on X

@liveleedsunited (23k)

@LeedsUnited_MAD (23k)

@LeedsUnitedWI (500)

@thesquareball (115k)

@leedsallover (8k)

The Team

The Gaffer

  • Daniel Farke (German), 48yo.

  • Entering his 3rd year at Leeds brought the team back to the PL with a 100 point season last year.

  • Playing career and much of his management career was in the Bundesliga (Germany) and most recently with Borussia Monchengladbach.

Daiel Farke

ODDS

  • To Win League +70,000

  • To Be Relegated -118

Roster Notes

CS Projected to finish 14th.

  • Joel Piroe

  • Wilfried Gnonto

  • Daniel James

  • Ethan Ampadu

  • Jaka Bijol

  • Ao Tanaka

  • Lukas Nmecha

  • Anton Stach

  • Sean Longstaff

Goalkeeper

  • Lucas Perri

Elland Road

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