The War of the Roses Rivalry Returns

The decade that began with Leeds United atop the Premier League table has ended with the very same club spending its third successive season, in the third flight of English Football. Much like the start of the 2000s, Manchester United is the reigning Premier League champion and has enjoyed recent success in Europe.

Yet, the new decade will renew the rivalry that has been among the biggest in English Football since the 1960s. This weekend, Leeds will travel to Old Trafford to renew hostilities with Manchester United in the FA Cup Third Round. The Roses Rivalry has returned, and all of Lancashire and Yorkshire will be keeping an eye on the events at Old Trafford.

Johnny Giles was a key member of Matt Busby’s outstanding Manchester United teams of the early 1960s. Giles became a vital part of the side after the Munich Air Disaster, but he requested a transfer in 1963 and was sold to then second division Leeds United.

With Giles leading the way, Leeds under Don Revie became Manchester United’s primary title and cup rival besides Liverpool. Leeds dominated the rivalry from the late 60s into the mid 1970s and that era also saw a disturbing amount of Hooliganism around this matchup. Leeds’ Service Crew and Man U’s Red Army waged firm warfare while the rivalry raged on the football pitch.

The 1978 sales of Joe Jordan and Gordan McQueen from Leeds to Manchester United were the first of five decisive player sales that help to explain the current positions of both clubs.

The sale of Eric Cantona from Leeds to Manchester United in 1992, changed the history of the English top flight. As reigning champions in the final year before formation of the Premier League, Leeds had several good attacking players, and felt Cantona was expendable.

Cantona, however had played an under appreciated role in Leeds title success, being the pivotal middle man on many goal scoring moves by the club towards the end of the season. Yet, Leeds sold him in December 1992 to bitter rivals Manchester United, who at the time were struggling in mid-table mediocrity.

The rest of the story is history as the clique goes. The Red Devils stormed up the table eventually overtaking high flying Norwich, and Aston Villa to win the inaugural Premier League title. Leeds, on the other hand slumped to 17^th, only avoiding relegation by two points.

By the late 1990s, Leeds United had recovered enough to be considered a title contender by analysts such as myself. The likes of Lucas Radebe, Harry Kewell, Alan Smith, Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer had revitalized the club.

Rio Ferdinand’s expensive transfer and subsequent career has left a bitter taste in the mouths of Leeds supporters. It was the purchase of Ferdinand from West Ham United in 2000, which furthered Leeds financial woes, and his sale in 2002 to Manchester United accelerated the clubs collapse. Two years later, Alan Smith whose career has since never been the same left Leeds for Old Trafford at a bargain price in order to prevent the club from going into administration.

Leeds fans continue to harbor bitterness towards Manchester United for all of these transfers, and studying the impact of all five players and the success of the clubs before and after the sales explains much about this rivalry.

Much has been written about the decline of Leeds United during the course of this decade. During the summer of 1999, I predicted Leeds would win the Premier League in May 2000 and spend much of the decade competing with Arsenal and Manchester United for club honors. My prediction was based largely on the squad Leeds had assembled and did not consider the financial mismanagement at the club.

Leeds quick decline has undoubtedly left a void in English football. That void can begin to disappear this weekend when the classic Roses Rivalry is renewed. Few will rate Leeds chances in this match highly, but from my vantage point, the important thing is that Leeds and Man U are once again facing off with something on the line.