Leeds United FC Team History

On 31 May 1920, Leeds United were elected to the Football League. Over the following years, they consolidated their position in the Second Division and in 1924 won the title and with it promotion to the First Division. They failed to establish themselves and were relegated in 1926–27. After their relegation, Fairclough resigned, which paved the way for Ray to return as manager. In the years up until the start of World War II, Leeds was twice relegated; on both occasions, they were re-promoted the following season.

Having found success in both domestic and European cup competitions, manager Revie chose to focus on the league for the 1968–69 campaign. Leeds secured the title in April 1969 with a 0–0 draw with challengers Liverpool at Anfield, whose supporters congratulated Leeds. Leeds set a number of records including most points (67), most wins (27), fewest defeats (2), and most home points (39); a still-unbroken club record is their 34 matches unbeaten run that extended into the following season. Leeds fostered their front breaking the British transfer record by signing Allan Clarke from Leicester City for £165,000. They targeted the treble in 1969–70 and came to achieve this, only to fail on all three fronts in a congested close season, finishing second in the league to Everton, losing the 1970 FA Cup Final to Chelsea (after a replay), and exiting the European Cup with a semi-final defeat to Celtic.

Leeds also reached the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup against Italian club A.C. Milan at the Kaftanzoglio Stadium, where they were beaten 1–0 following some controversial refereeing. Revie was offered the manager’s role at Everton in the summer but chose to remain at Leeds. They won the First Division with a five-point lead over second-placed Liverpool. Revie chose to take the job of England national team manager at the end of the 1973–74 season.

In his 13 years in charge, Revie guided Leeds to two Football League First Division titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups, one Football League Second Division title, and one Charity Shield. He also guided them to three more FA Cup Finals, two more FA Cup Semi-finals, one more Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final and one Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Semi-final, one European Cup Winners’ Cup Final, and one European Cup Semi-final. The team also finished second in the Football League First Division five times, third once, and fourth twice. In a survey of leading football writers, historians, and academics by Total Sport magazine, Revie’s Leeds United was voted as one of the 50 greatest football teams of all time.

In October 1988, with the team 21st in the Second Division, Bremner was fired to make way for Howard Wilkinson. Leeds avoided relegation that season, and in March 1989 signed Gordon Strachan from Manchester United for £300,000. The Scottish midfielder was named captain and helped Leeds win the Second Division in 1989–90 and gain promotion back to the First Division. Under Wilkinson Leeds finished fourth in 1990–91, and in the 1991–92 season, they won the title of the last ever Division 1 as top tier, as the next season it was replaced by the Premier League.