'I was ruthlessly axed by Marcelo Bielsa but just had a Leeds United badge tattoo'

Former Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson has revealed a new tattoo depicting his career - inclusive of a Whites club crest.

Jansson spent three years at Elland Road and quickly became a fan-favourite for his combative centre-back displays and passionate celebrations. The Swede played 120 games for Leeds across all competitions including a campaign under Marcelo Bielsa.

But after play-off defeat to Derby County, Jansson was surprisingly sold to Championship rivals Brentford for a comparatively small £5.5million fee. According to reports following his exit, the defender refused to report back for pre-season training on time.

Bielsa said little on the matter but stated ‘you have to take care of the club’, hinting at a fallout between himself and Jansson. The centre-back would go on to spend four incredibly successful years at Brentford before returning to boyhood club Malmo in 2023.

Still at Malmo, Jansson took to Instagram to share an incredible new tattoo depicting the different stages of his career. Included in the collage are both Leeds and Brentford badges, a Premier League captain’s armband, the Sky Bet banner known from the Championship and a baby sleeping in the ‘magic hat’ from his song.

Alongside the post, Jansson wrote [translated from [Swedish to English]: “The Course of Life, my Story. Three generations.”

The abruptness of Jansson’s Leeds exit raised questions at the time but he clashed with Bielsa during the campaign as well. The defender famously resisted letting Aston Villa score an equaliser under instruction after Mateusz Klich’s infamous goal in April 2019.

Bielsa’s decision was quickly vindicated with the somewhat unknown Ben White signed on loan from Brighton as Jansson’s replacement. The young defender proved to be a revelation at Elland Road, partnering Liam Cooper as Leeds won the Championship title with some of the best football ever seen at that level.

Jansson took another year to win promotion with Brentford before enjoying two years in the Premier League. He is still fondly remembered around Elland Road and that feeling is clearly reciprocated.

"To be completely honest, I miss and love Leeds,” Jansson admitted in 2021. “I miss my team-mates. I will love Leeds for the rest of my life and follow them. I have a close relationship with the players, I still often talk to Andrea."