Leeds United’s monetary difficulties within the early 2000s had been well-documented, and this woe translated into their devastating fall from grace.
In what appeared like an instantaneous, the Whites went from Champions League semi-finalists and Premier League challengers to relegation fodder, culminating of their 2004 stoop into the Championship.
Throughout this era, in a determined try to steadiness the books, a lot of their prime belongings had been bought at a cut-price as different prime golf equipment got here circling round their sinking ship.
They noticed alternatives to choose on the bones of this flawed establishment that held no bargaining energy, and as such their rivals basically took what they wished.
This didn’t finish with their relegation although, as a yr after then-manager Kevin Blackwell oversaw considered one of their most irritating gross sales as academy graduate Aaron Lennon left for Tottenham Hotspur. While his departure alone stung, the tiny payment paid solely served to additional twist the knife into their gaping monetary wound.
How a lot did Aaron Lennon value Tottenham Hotspur?
Having scored solely as soon as for the Yorkshire outfit, the 5 foot 5 winger had nonetheless captured the eye of their first season within the second division. His electrical tempo and fast toes made him a menace to any full-back, so it was unsurprising to see him coveted by the likes of Spurs.
Nonetheless, due to their aforementioned fiscal deficiencies, the Lilywhites would solely should half with £1m to safe this diminutive speedster.
Given how vital the 35-year-old grew to become for them, a staple of the Premier League, marks simply how massive of a blow this turned out to be. Lennon would go on to characteristic 364 instances for Spurs, scoring 30 and helping 79.
Such was his affect on not simply this membership however the league as a complete, journalist Joao Vitor Castanheira branded him a “legend” regardless of solely successful a sole EFL Cup.
He actually was able to the spectacular, with fellow journalist Alasdair Gold reminiscing on the instances when the winger can be “tearing defences to shreds together with his tempo” earlier than ending issues off with a stunner; or as author Ian Mitchelmore put it, an “absolute magnificence“.
A nomadic determine who’s now synonymous with the English prime flight, Lennon would additionally go on to play for Everton and Burnley while changing into a true pioneer within the psychological well being sphere inside the sport.
His work on and off the pitch has made him a real cult hero determine at each membership he has graced, however Leeds have the best to really feel the toughest carried out by given the style wherein he was snatched from them solely to be became a legend for everybody however them.