Leeds United finally get their hands on silverware and normality will be worth the wait

LEEDS United had scooped a dozen honours in their 100-year history heading into this, their centenary campaign.
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Perhaps the quest for a 13th trophy was proving a difficult task as United were stuck on 12 since 1992 - the year the Whites became champions of England for the third time.

Domestically, nothing can top that - just ask Liverpool.

But the Whites are also rightly deeply proud of their two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups triumphs, their FA Cup, League Cup and two Charity Shield wins.

FINALLY! Stuart Dallas and Barry Douglas spray the bubbly while head coach Marcelo Bielsa, left, smiles looking on as Leeds United captain Liam Cooper lifts the Championship champions trophy. Picture by Tony Johnson.FINALLY! Stuart Dallas and Barry Douglas spray the bubbly while head coach Marcelo Bielsa, left, smiles looking on as Leeds United captain Liam Cooper lifts the Championship champions trophy. Picture by Tony Johnson.
FINALLY! Stuart Dallas and Barry Douglas spray the bubbly while head coach Marcelo Bielsa, left, smiles looking on as Leeds United captain Liam Cooper lifts the Championship champions trophy. Picture by Tony Johnson.
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Eight of those honours came under the legendary Don Revie with the first - a Division Two title triumph - arriving 40 years after United’s first-ever honour of becoming second tier champions in 1924 under Arthur Fairclough.

And 26 years after Revie’s last honour and second First Division title in 1974, Howard Wilkinson became the third Leeds manager to steer United to promotion as Second Division champions in 1990.

As with Revie, a First Division title followed, and a Charity Shield - both in 1992. Until now, until Marcelo Bielsa. That’s where it ended.

But with recently passed club legends Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter and Trevor Cherry looking down from the sky, United’s 28-year wait to get their hands on silverware finally ended on Wednesday night and when the time is right Leeds will celebrate in style.

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That was the message from Leeds chief executive Angus Kinnear in the build-up the clash against Charlton Athletic yesterday, which finally marked the end of a long, drawn-out Championship campaign.

But for Leeds it was much more than that: the end to 16 long years without Premier League football and the added bonus of a first trophy for 28 years.

All that really mattered in United’s 10th consecutive campaign in English football’s second tier was that the season ended with Leeds getting out of it and not by going backwards as in 2007.

There have been some dark days at Leeds United Football Club during the last 16 years - and three years in League One were among the darkest.

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Yet the Whites should now be looking at the brightest of futures under chairman Andrea Radrizzani with the third biggest city in the country and one-club city finally back in the Premier League - and with a trophy to boot.

After the heartache of defeat in last season’s play-offs, head coach Bielsa’s second season at the helm concerned one clear mission: sealing one of the division’s two automatic promotion places.

Having recorded an impressive 26 victories and nine draws from their 44 games played, last Friday night marked mission accomplished without Leeds even playing, as second-placed West Brom fluffed their lines at Huddersfield Town who briefly became United’s best of friends.

As part of a dream and almost fairy-tale weekend, Leeds were then crowned the division’s champions the next day and again without kicking a ball, as third-placed Brentford this time came a cropper at Stoke City.

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Leeds were going up as champions - just as they did in 1990 under Howard Wilkinson - and while a top-two spot was all that really mattered, Bielsa and his players would tell you that the title was always the aim.

And on Wednesday night United’s players finally got their hands on it and celebrated in style, albeit in strange circumstances during the country’s ongoing battle against coronavirus.

With the wild scenes in Leeds from the weekend no doubt firmly in mind, Whites chief executive Kinnear issued a strong message in the hours before kick-off.

Keen to avoid thousands of fans swarming around Elland Road, the club and Sky Sports News ensured that United’s trophy lift was screened live so that fans could capture the moment inside their own homes.

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Hardly the same, but these are tough times and Kinnear said the sacrifice would be worth the wait

“This is a momentous occasion and one that we’ve dreamt of for 16 long years,” said Kinnear.

“But we must consider the health of people in our community before we celebrate - the fight against Covid-19 is not over yet.”

He added: “I promise that when the time is right, we will celebrate in style.”

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When their team returns, United’s fans will be supporting a side in the Premier League - having also unlocked the trophy cabinet for the first time in 28 years.

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Thank you Laura Collins

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