Leeds are a Premier League club again. They finish the season as Championship winners and end a 16-year absence from the top flight. Cue scenes of delirium in West Yorkshire.
The return of the Whites marks perhaps the biggest promotion story in recent history. By most metrics, they’re still one of the biggest clubs in England, and it’s not too bold to say a club of the stature belong in the Premier League – up until a few weeks ago, they’d won the top division more recently than Liverpool.
Fans and neutrals alike will be keen to see how they get on now they’re back. Will they quickly return to former glories, or is this a flash in the pan?
We take a look at five reasons we think Leeds are set to become a Premier League powerhouse.
The manager
Marcelo Bielsa is a top-class manager. The Argentine has a stellar CV and it’s no surprise that he’s helped Leeds back into the Championship after just two seasons in charge.
After the heartbreak of last season’s play-offs, it took a top manager to rally that group and bring them back even better. He’s a tactical master, and any concerns over ‘Bielsa burnout’ have been put to rest this season as his side got the job done.
Everyone should be excited to see how he fares going up against the current crop of Premier League gaffers. One of them, Pep Guardiola no less, was full of praise for Bielsa in a recent press conference.
"I was not his player so it is difficult for me to talk about him, not being there, but I know the reference and influence for a thousand million players that did work with him,” said Guardiola.
“I was lucky to have the opportunity to talk with him, but for world football his ethics, his behaviour, the way his team plays, he is an authentic manager, his product is always incredible. Nobody can imitate him and that makes him special.
"I think honestly it is my personal opinion for English football it will be incredible for him to be in the Premier League this season and learn how his teams play.”
The history
History still suggests that Leeds’ time outside the Premier League is an anomaly, and the fans and players will have the belief that this is a club that deserves to be playing in the top flight.
With no fear of feeling like frauds, they can play with an arrogance and swagger deserving of their name.
Remember, this is a side that won the title in 1991/1992. A fan base blessed with memories of Eric Cantona. A club that played a Champions League semi-final in this century.
On the all-time Premier League table, they’re still 13th despite their 16-year absence!
Leeds are a massive club, and they should play like one next season.
Fearless approach
All of the above will lend itself to how Leeds play football. They will not be the kind of newly-promoted side to play conservatively, gearing up for draws, parking the bus or playing just to survive.
This Leeds side only know one way to play, and that’s to press high, force mistakes and aggressively pressure defences into mistakes with explosive attacking football.
The current Premier League crop, from top to bottom, are all liable to a wobble at the back every now and then, and Leeds will fancy exposing that more than most.
What’s more, they’re incredibly resilient. Leeds are no strangers to coming back from behind, and as their recovery this season shows - after throwing away the Championship last times round – they’re not lacking in mental strength.
This is a side that may concede quite a few, but they’ll be knocking them in for fun as well.
The fans
Assuming we get fans back on seats sometime next season, the Leeds faithful will have a huge part to play in thrusting their side to Premier League success.
This lot have been waiting 16 years to see their side back at the top, and in that time have endured all manner of lows.
There are 37,890 seats in Elland Road. The atmosphere when the fans get back inside will be frightening.
No longer “doing a Leeds”
The phrase “doing a Leeds” has become a way of describing any side that capitulates due to financial pressure and mismanagement.
Those days are long gone.
Leeds are nicely propped up by their owners and chairman Andrea Radrizzani, and after a lengthy wobble with the bank, they’re back in business.
Manager, players and fans will be desperate to put that particular part of their history to one side, and recreate a different legacy going forward as a new Premier League club.
