The 2003-04 season was one to forget for Leeds United as they finished 19th in the Premier League, relegated after a fairly successful 14-year stint in the top flight, in the wake of the club’s financial crisis. We take a look at the starting XI that finished Leeds United’s season to forget, and see where they are now:
1. Scott Carson
Scott Carson was called up to make his first-team debut for Leeds in January 2004, coming on as a late substitute for Paul Robinson who was sent off Against Middlesbrough. His senior call up came after he only spent less than a year in the academy and half a season with the reserves. Two weeks later, Carson made his full debut, starting in a 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford, and made one further appearance afterwards which came against Chelsea in May 2004. In a shock move, at the age of 34, Carson joined Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on loan, and we’re led to believe he’s still on City’s books.
2. Frazer Richardson
Rob Hulse celebrates with Frazer Richardson. 37-year-old defender Frazer Richardson began his career at Leeds in 2001. He had two spells on loan at Stoke City during his tenure in West Yorkshire, before moving to Charlton on a free transfer in 2009. He then had stints at Southampton, Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town and Rotherham United before retiring at Doncaster Rovers in 2016. Photo: Varley Photo Agency
3. Michael Duberry
Centre-back Michael Duberry scored just four goals in 73 games for Leeds, making 20 appearances and scoring three in the season Leeds were relegated. In 2004-5, Duberry was loaned out to Stoke City, before making the switch permanent. Duberry would go on to be a regular for Stoke City, before joining Reading in 2009. After that, he played for Wycombe, St Johnson and Oxford United, before hanging up his boots at the age of 44 after he had made just four appearances for non-league side Hendon.
4. Lucas Radebe
Lucas Radebe only played for two clubs in his footballing career. He started out at South African club Kaizer Chiefs 1989, before moving to Leeds in 1994. The defender enjoyed 11 years at Elland Road in which he made an impressive 238 appearances, scoring two goals. He became a club legend, earning the nickname “The Chief” from Leeds supporters. He is the club's most internationally capped player with 69 caps for South Africa. After United’s relegation in 2004, Radebe retired at Leeds in 2005. He is still a cult figure in West Yorkshire and stays very well connected with his old club.
5. Ian Harte
Following United’s relegation to the Championship in 2004, Harte was sold due to the club’s financial struggles to Spanish side Levante. Harte returned to England in 2007 with Sunderland for a brief spell, before joining Blackpool, Carlisle United and Reading. Harte eventually moved to Bournemouth in June 2013, and signed another one-year contract with the Cherries a year later, keeping him at Bournemouth until June 2015. Four days after the club earned their first ever promotion to the Premier League, Harte was one of seven players released by Bournemouth. He then announced his retirement from football on 27 August 2015 at the age of 37. Harte now works as a football agent.
6. Gary Kelly
Gary Kelly, the definition of a true one club man as he spent his whole professional career at Leeds United, beginning in 1992. He delivered six assists and scored two in 490 appearances for Leeds during his 16 years at Elland Road, the ninth most appearances in Leeds United’s history. He retired at the end of the 2006-07 season, aged 32.