Eirik Bakke - Fans memories of a Leeds United unsung hero

Eirik Bakke was built for the Premier League and for European competition - reasonably quick, strong in the tackle and a hard, aggressive runner on his better days.

He enjoyed seven successful seasons helping Leeds United reach the semi-finals of both the UEFA Cup and Champions League.

Bakke came to Leeds in 1999 as a Norwegian Under-21 international and the plan was to blend him slowly into an already strong midfield.

“He was a player who I didn’t want to expose too quickly,” manager David O’Leary said. “But he emerged with great credit.”

An under-rated presence whose skill on the ball sometimes outweighed the quality of his passing game, he scored twice in the second leg of Leeds’ fateful UEFA Cup semi-final against Galatasaray and was largely immovable during their Champions League run, starting 10 of the 18 games that United played in the competition proper.

Bakke continued to make his presence felt in the post-O’Leary years but spent increasing amounts of time with Leeds’ medical staff as injuries consumed him.

Your YEP has asked the Elland Road faithful to share their memories of a player synonymous with an era of success and excess at Elland Road.

Responses included:

Stevie Dewar (@SJDewar1990) - "Saw him first play against Metalurg in the UEFA Cup and as I was a kid, I thought he was a giant as he seemed really tall on the pitch. Met Eirik a couple years later and he was a real gent! Not as tall as I thought though."

Peter Cale - "My Leeds hero growing up. Scored the first goal at my first ever Leeds game and I never looked back. Will always be one of my all-time favourite players."

Harry Robertson - "A quality player. He was a brick in the Leeds side."

Tj MacDhómhnaill - "He is well up there with my favourite players I’ve seen for Leeds. Gave 100 per cent every-time he played. Never in the limelight and never complained."

John Cook - "Great player a in great team."

John Dickerson - " Quality player Erik. Very underrated."

Mark Allotey - "One of my favourites!"

Seán Condon - "Always popped up with important goals. Classic player."

Mark Crawford - "Erik the Viking. Underrated, but always remembered."

Phil Barrett - "Fantastic player, always gave 100 per cent and was very consistent. In his day, he was very much like Stuart Dallas, an unsung hero!"

Alan Pengelly - "One of our very best ever. Always under the radar, just got on with it and could always be relied. Career marred by injury but he always came back better and added to the team."

Craig Milner - "Top pro that gave his all for the mighty whites."

David Cammish - "I loved Erik, very under-rated. There were just so many 'higher profile' players in the squad then he was under appreciated.

Gary Wood - Immense player. Rarely had a bad game. Great first touch and awesome vision."

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Laura Collins