Leeds United - on this day: Terry Venables succeeds David O'Leary in Elland Road hotseat

18 years ago today...
Former Leeds United head coach Terry Venables appointed by chairman Peter Ridsdale. (Getty)Former Leeds United head coach Terry Venables appointed by chairman Peter Ridsdale. (Getty)
Former Leeds United head coach Terry Venables appointed by chairman Peter Ridsdale. (Getty)

The day...

July 8, 2002

The event...

Terry Venables is appointed Leeds United head coach

What happened?

18 years ago today Leeds United unveiled their new head coach Terry Venables.

The former England boss came with high expectations but the Whites' financial worries had only just begun to appear.

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Rio Ferdinand was sold to arch rivals Manchester United just two weeks into Venables tenure in West Yorkshire.

By Christmas Leeds were languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League and had been knocked out of both the UEFA and League Cup.

Defender Jonathan Woodgate was sold in January without Venables being informed and he threatened to leave before being persuaded to stay by chairman Peter Ridsdale.

He was eventually sacked in March as the Elland Road financial crisis deepened.