So when we asked Yorkshire Evening Post readers on Facebook to name the player who first made them fall in love with Leeds - and who they believe is the club’s greatest player of all time - the response was staggering.
Literally hundreds of you weighed in, filling the comments with memories, debates and a fair few emotional tributes. What followed was a roll call of true Elland Road royalty. From the lion-hearted leaders of the Don Revie era to the fearless champions of the early ’90s, the same names came roaring back time and again.
Some were the first heroes you watched from the terraces or on grainy television screens. Others were names passed down like folklore - players your parents or grandparents swore were the best to ever pull on the white shirt. But every nomination said the same thing: Leeds United’s history isn’t just rich, it’s unforgettable.
Let’s meet the legends you chose.
1. Billy Bremner
Leeds captain and the ferocious heartbeat of the Don Revie era, Billy Bremner spent 17 seasons at Elland Road from 1960 to 1976, making 773 appearances and scoring 114 goals. A relentless box-to-box midfielder famed for his fierce tackling, infectious energy and refusal to give an inch, his never-say-die attitude became the standard at Leeds, inspiring teammates, intimidating opponents and cementing his status as the club’s ultimate legend. | Hulton Archive
2. Peter Lorimer
Leeds’ all-time record scorer with 238 goals, Peter Lorimer starred for 19 seasons across two spells (1962–79, 1983–85), racking up 707 appearances and a trophy haul that included two league titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and two Fairs Cups. A terrifying blend of pace, power and a fearsome long-range shot, Lorimer could tear defences apart from the wing or through the middle - his thunderbolt strikes and dead-ball prowess made him a constant menace and an everlasting fans' favourite at Elland Road. | Getty Images
3. Eddie Gray
A dazzling, mercurial winger whose close control and mazy dribbles could unpick any defence, Eddie Gray served Leeds United for nearly 17 years from 1966 to 1983, making 579 appearances and scoring 69 goals. Beyond the stats he was the crowd-pleaser at Elland Road - the player fans queued to see, turning tight spaces into scoring opportunities with his balance, vision and impeccable first touch. Instrumental in Leeds’ domestic and European glory years, Gray later returned to the club in coaching roles, passing on that same flair to new generations. | Getty Images
4. Gordon Strachan
Joining Leeds United in March 1989, Gordon Strachan was the combative, clever engine who helped drag the club back to the top. Over six seasons he made 245 appearances and scored 45 goals, combining box-to-box industry with an eye for a timely strike and a knack for set-pieces. More than just goals, Strachan’s leadership, work-rate and experience steadied a young squad as they won the Second Division and then the 1991–92 First Division title (Premier League). | Hulton Archive
5. Johnny Giles
Johnny Giles was the elegant schemer at the heart of the Don Revie era. Across 12 seasons from 1963 to 1975 he made 383 appearances and scored 88 goals, pulling the strings in midfield with vision, exquisite passing and a coolness under pressure that turned defence into attack. Giles was the conductor: he orchestrated tempo, delivered defence-splitting passes and dangled the perfect through-ball for forwards to feast on. | Ian McLennan
6. Gary Speed
A key figure in Leeds United's 1991–92 title triumph, Gary Speed made 312 appearances and scored 57 goals across eight seasons after joining as a trainee in 1988. Energetic, box-to-box and deadly from distance, he brought drive and consistency to midfield - a fan favourite whose leadership on the pitch helped knit that title-winning side together and whose influence on teammates was felt long after he left Elland Road. | Getty Images