Leeds United 2020/21 Season Review

‘What a day to be alive, f*ck me’ slurred Mateusz Klich, celebrating after Leeds United’s promotion back to the summit of English football. A 16-year top-flight hiatus was finally over for England’s sleeping giant, with the dark days of Wise, Warnock and Hockaday firmly laid to rest. Leeds were back, and they weren’t there for a fleeting visit. 

Spanish internationals Rodrigo and Diego Llorente were brought in alongside Germany’s Robin Koch. £17m was spent on Raphinha, a Brazilian winger from Rennes, who swapped Champions League football for a chance to work under Marcelo Bielsa. Thrilling encounters early on in the season quickly saw Leeds become branded as the most watchable team in the league; ‘they want to make it like a basketball match’ became every manager’s go-to phrase whilst his players sat gasping for air in the changing rooms.

Leeds’ high intensity, attacking style was here in all of its glory, and despite a few heavy defeats along the way, Bielsa was never one to opt for a more subtle approach from his players. The side would go on to be unbeaten against the European Super League six at home, narrowly missing out on continental football despite picking up 24 points from the final 11 fixtures as they finished ninth. Their points tally of 59 was the highest of any promoted side since Ipswich Town in 2000-01.

Top scorer Patrick Bamford finished the season with a remarkable 17 goals and 7 assists, somehow missing out of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad. Raphinha proved to be one of the buys of the season in the league, with his typical Brazilian flair, dazzling footwork and killer instincts seeing the future Seleção star averaging a goal or assist every other game.