Forthcoming literary release “100 Years of Leeds United: 1919-2019” by Daniel Chapman expertly examines and fascinatingly details the in-depth historical lineage, unforgettable domestic and European triumphs, polarizing divisiveness, unfathomable heartbreaks and indeed the once near-extinction of the widely proud West Yorkshire club in a definitive account of Leeds United’s rollercoaster ride of club history.
Chapman’s centenary offering furthermore unbiasedly delves into Leeds United’s inspirational turnaround from the club’s self-inflicted placement into administration circa 2003/2004, courtesy of overindulgently cavalier overspending, where the club then owned £7.7 million to the United Kingdom’s Revenue and Customs service, coupled alongside then unpaid outstanding financial debts estimated to be around £35 million, all the way to the White’s marvellously invigorating renaissance 15 years later under the managerial guidance of universally heralded Argentinean tactician, Marcelo Bielsa, throughout the 2018/2019 season, which witnessed the Whites reach the Sky Bet Championship Play-offs before being eliminated by Dean Smith’s valiant Aston Villa 4-3 on aggregate.
Leeds United, who were officially formed after Leeds City F.C disbanded in 1919 after 15 years of existence, ambitiously reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in the 2000/2001 season under Irishman, David O’Leary, Arsenal’s all-time leader in appearances with 722 games for the Gunners. The Yorkshire giants, however, fell short against Héctor Cúper’s Los Ches in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in arguably their most important European encounter in the club’s contemporary history.
“100 Years of Leeds United: 1919-2019” extensively revisits the club’s memorable three league division one (now Sky Bet Championship) titles, as well as the White’s F.A Cup and League Cup triumphs during the golden years. Second place finishes in the UEFA Cup (now UEFA Europa League) in the 1972/1973 season and, of course, the European Cup (now UEFA Champions League) in the 1974/1975 campaign are sharply recounted, whereas club legends from Leeds United’s great past such as Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles, Eric Cantona, Gary McAllister, Gordon Strachan and Harry Kewell are among some of the noteworthy names featured in equal measure to the White’s current day stars of Kemar Roofe, Mateusz Klich, Patrick Bamford, Pontus Jansson, Pablo Hernández, Liam Cooper and Barry Douglas to name a few.
Moreover, “100 Years of Leeds United: 1919-2019” vividly and unapologetically leaves no stone unturned throughout Chapman’s spellbinding account of the redemptional West Yorkshire giants, whilst delivering an unprecedentedly profound and scientific insight into the club’s past, present and future.
“100 Years of Leeds United 1919-2019” by Daniel Chapman is available to pre-order on Amazon (price £15.99) and is released on August 8.
“100 Years of Leeds United 1919-2019”: https://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Years-Leeds-United-1919-2019/dp/1785784307/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1558354078&refinements=p_27%3ADaniel+Chapman&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Daniel+Chapman
