Leeds United have had fourteen first-team goalkeepers who have played five or more games over the past decade. Over the last ten years, the club have traversed League One, battled it out in the lower reaches of the Championship and are now currently top of the second tier.
Their current No.1 is Spanish goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, but where does he rank amongst the others to have been Leeds United custodians?
Stuart Taylor – 14th
The goalkeeper with the fewest appearances on this list, Stuart Taylor only featured on five occasions for Leeds during the 2014-15 season. Taylor’s career was winding down when he took on a back-up role at Elland Road, keeping just one clean sheet in five games.
Felix Wiedwald – 13th
German goalkeeper Wiedwald kept goal for Leeds for the majority of the 2017-18 season. After initially adjusting to the Championship well, his form dipped considerably midway through the campaign. He was subsequently dropped for the final eleven games of the season as Leeds slumped to a mid-table finish.
Shane Higgs – 12th
Veteran ‘keeper Shane Higgs was Leeds’ back-up goalkeeper during the season the club were promoted from League One in 2009-2010. Higgs turned in solid performances for the Whites throughout 2010 but was eventually replaced after conceding five against Barnsley and six against Preston North End on the club’s return to the Championship.
Paul Rachubka – 11th
Rachubka played just six times at Leeds, keeping one clean sheet, but also conceding five on one occasion against Blackpool at Elland Road. Unfortunately for the former West Ham United man, that spelled the end of his time at the club. The following season, Rachubka was sent out on loan to Accrington Stanley in League Two before being released at the end of his two-year deal.
Alex McCarthy – 10th
Southampton and England goalkeeper Alex McCarthy spent a month of the 2011-12 season on loan at Elland Road. McCarthy was drafted in on a short-term basis and oversaw a handful of wins, but only managed six games for the club before being sent out on loan to Ipswich Town.
Jack Butland – 9th
Stoke City custodian Jack Butland enjoyed time at Elland Road towards the end of the 2013-14 campaign. The young ‘keeper made a number of clean sheets but also conceded multiple goals on various occasions. On the whole, Butland made a good impression, playing for a side who were largely very poor defensively.
Paddy Kenny – 8th
Veteran Football League stopper Paddy Kenny was Leeds’ first-choice between 2012 and 2014. He made 76 league appearances and was an ever-present throughout the 2012-13 campaign. Kenny was dropped midway through the following season, which coincided with Leeds dropping out of the top half and eventually finishing in 15th place.
Casper Ankergren - 7th
Currently a goalkeeping coach at Brighton and Hove Albion, Casper Ankergren was Leeds United’s No. 1 for three seasons. His time at Elland Road came to an end at the close of the 2009-10 season in which Leeds were promoted from League One. Ankergren was widely regarded as a solid goalkeeper from his time at the club.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell – 6th
23-year-old Bailey Peacock-Farrell broke into the Leeds first-team towards the end of the 2017-18 season and consolidated his place in the side replacing the unfancied Felix Wiedwald. During the 2018-19 season, Peacock-Farrell kept 10 clean sheets in the Championship before being replaced by Kiko Casilla.
Kiko Casilla – 5th
Current No. 1 Kiko Casilla has been commended for his shot-stopping but has been known to be erratic at times. His antics in goal have led many Leeds United supporters to suggest he is not of Premier League quality. Nevertheless, he remains one of the better second tier stoppers and one of Leeds’ better custodians over the past decade.
Andy Lonergan – 4th
Lonergan has spent time at Elland Road on two separate occasions, firstly in 2011-12 and again in 2017-18. The Englishman was highly rated during his first spell at the club, subsequently being sold to Bolton Wanderers after one season. In 2017, he returned to the club replacing fan favourite Robert Green for a brief period but was considered expendable when Marcelo Bielsa joined the club as manager in 2018.
Marco Silvestri – 3rd
Nominated for Player of the Season following an impressive 2014-15 season in which he was called into action regularly. Despite hovering above the relegation zone for much of the season, Silvestri kept 12 clean sheets in 43 Championship games, establishing himself as first-choice for the following year.
Kasper Schmeichel – 2nd
One of the most prestigious goalkeepers to have worn the No. 1 shirt for Leeds United over the past decade is Premier League winner Kasper Schmeichel. Son of former Manchester United legend Peter, Schmeichel junior helped Leeds to a 7th place finish a season after being promoted from League One, keeping nine clean sheets in the process.
Robert Green – 1st
The best Leeds United goalkeeper of the past decade spent just one season at the club. Ex-England international Rob Green spent the 2016-17 campaign as the No. 1 at Elland Road. Leeds narrowly missed out on the play-offs, but through no fault of Green’s. Barring one error at home to Newcastle United, Green was solid throughout the entire season, disappointing Leeds fans by departing for newly-promoted Huddersfield Town in 2017.
