Lucas Radebe is a true legend at Leeds United. Nicknamed ‘The Chief’, the centre-back is one of the most-iconic players to have played for Leeds in the last 30 years.
The South African clocked up a huge 262 appearances for Leeds during a nine-year period at the club and it would have been a whole lot more had he not sustained serious knee and ankle injuries back in 2000.
He remained at Elland Road until 2005 and even played for Leeds in the Championship, before confirming his retirement. Radebe often turns up at Leeds and is adored by supporters as one of the club’s legends.
He is behind the name of Leeds-based band ‘Kaizer Chiefs’, having played for the South African club prior to joining in 1994. But it was two years after his arrival that prompted a reply from Radebe this week.
In 1996, Howard Wilkinson was forced into a difficult decision as Leeds went to Manchester United, losing 1-0 at Old Trafford to Sir Alex Ferguson’s men. But Radebe was the man to jump to his manager’s need.
Radebe recalls Leeds moment he ‘wasn’t ready’ for back in 1996
Back in 1995-96, Leeds finished in 13th place in the Premier League. Having beaten Manchester United at Elland Road, Leeds suffered a 1-0 loss at Old Trafford but it’s a game that sticks long in Radebe’s memory.
Just 15 minutes into the game, Mark Beeney was sent off for handling outside the area. Wilkinson had no goalkeeper on the bench and was forced to bring on Radebe in goal, and the South African acquitted himself well.
He denied the likes of Andy Cole and Brian McClair before Roy Keane scored the only goal of the game on 72 minutes to secure a 1-0 win. Radebe replied to a picture of him wearing the goalkeeper shirt on X.
“Iconic day and moment in my career, wasn’t ready but had to do it. Don the green jersey for the mighty Leeds United and the rest is history.”
Lucas Radebe is not the only Leeds centre-back to go in goal
Following in Radebe’s footsteps, Pontus Jansson donned the gloves during the Marcelo Bielsa era at Leeds. It came during a 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United in Bielsa’s first season, back in March 2019.
It is widely said you have to be crazy to be a goalkeeper and there is no doubting Jansson’s credentials. He replaced the sent-off Kiko Casilla between the sticks, even while suffering a knee injury previously.
Luckily for Jansson and Leeds, the Sweden international only had to go in goal for the final few minutes of the game as Chris Basham’s 71st-minute goal was enough to secure three points for Chris Wilder’s side.
Leave a Reply