Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Leeds Live
Leeds Live
Sport
George Bennett

Where are they now? The last Leeds United team to win at Old Trafford

Leeds United are make the trip to Manchester United this evening in the latest instalment of one of English football's biggest rivalries.

Old Trafford has not been a happy hunting ground for Leeds since their return to the Premier League in 2020. The Whites have conceded 11 goals in their previous two visits - losing 6-2 and 5-1 respectively. Leeds last defeated Man United on their own patch in the league in February 1981 but their famous 1-0 win in the FA Cup 3rd Round was their last victory at the Theatre of Dreams.

With that in mind, LeedsLive have taken a look at those who played on that famous day to find out where they are now.

READ NEXT: Leeds United could prove Jesse Marsch right by unleashing what he said they always needed

GK: Casper Ankergren

Ankergren kept a clean sheet at Old Trafford and made crucial stops to thwart Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov respectively. The Danish goalkeeper initially arrived at Leeds on loan from Brondby in January 2007, displacing Tony Warner between the sticks to become first-choice at Elland Road.

He joined Leeds permanently in the summer and retained his place for two seasons as Leeds reached the League One play-offs in back-to-back seasons in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Shane Higgs arrived from Cheltenham Town in the summer of 2009 and Ankergren was initially demoted to second-choice at Leeds.

However, an injury just nine games into Higgs's spell at Elland Road reopened the door for Ankergren. He played in the majority of Leeds's promotion-winning campaign and also played in all six matches in the FA Cup. After the victory over Man United, Ankergren saved Jermain Defoe's penalty to inspire Leeds to a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

Ankergren lost his place in the side for the final nine games of the 2009/10 season and was released after not being offered a new deal by Leeds. He went onto join Brighton & Hove Albion where he won the League One title in 2011 and spent the remaining years of his career before his retirement in 2017.

He worked as assistant goalkeeping coach at the Amex Stadium for just over four years but returned to Denmark in October 2021 to become goalkeeping coach at Brondby.

"It's really good, really good," Ankergren said in May. "It's different from what I was used to working at Brighton but I played at Brondby so I know the club really well. I know the values of the club and what they're look for.

"Things have changed since I've been away but there's a lot of positive stuff going on. They won the championship last year, so yes I'm really enjoying it."

DEF: Jason Crowe

Crowe's crucial goal line clearance to thwart Wayne Rooney paved Leeds's pathway to glory at Old Trafford. The right-back, who was once on Arsenal's books, was a seasoned professional, after taking in spells at the likes of Portsmouth, Grimsby Town and Northampton respectively, before his arrival at Leeds in 2009.

He played only 27 times during his 18 months at Elland Road before rounding off his career with Leyton Orient, Northampton Town and Corby Town respectively. The 43-year-old has not returned to the professional game since his retirement in 2013.

DEF: Richard Naylor

Naylor was a veteran defender by the time he joined his boyhood club Leeds in 2009. He had spent 14 years at Ipswich Town, amassing 373 appearances for the Tractor Boys and spending two seasons in the Premier League.

He was a regular during his first 18 months at Elland Road and helped guide the Whites to promotion in 2010. Naylor spent five months at Doncaster Rovers after leaving Leeds before finishing his playing career at Rotherham United in 2012.

Richard Naylor joined Leeds United in January 2009 and went on to play a key part in promotion from League One as well as the victory in the FA Cup at Old Trafford in 09/10 (Alex Livesey)

Naylor started his UEFA B Coaching badges during his final season and re-joined Leeds as U18 coach in July 2012. He won the league title in his first season and stepped up to caretaker assistant under Neil Redfearn following the sacking of Neil Warnock in 2013.

He was made redundant by Massimo Cellino in 2014 and went onto join Hull as a Professional Development Phase Coach in 2016. He progressed to the role of Head of Academy Coaching in late 2018 and has also worked as Academy Manager at the MKM Stadium since March 2020.

DEF: Patrick Kisnorbo

Kisnorbo arrived at Elland Road in 2009 after making 140 appearances across four seasons for Leicester City. The former Australian international, who also spent two seasons at Hearts, played 37 games for the Whites during the 2009/10 season.

He was famed for wearing his trademark headband after receiving 12 stitches following a head injury on his debut. Kisnorbo rejected plastic surgery to avoid losing his place in the team and continued to wear his headband as he was named in the League One PFA Team of the Year.

The defender was also voted Leeds United Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season but injury ultimately marred his final three seasons at the club. He had a brief loan spell at Ipswich before returning to Australia to play the final three seasons of his career at Melbourne City.

After retiring in 2016, Kisnorbo was appointed as assistant youth coach at Melbourne City and also worked as assistant coach for the women's team. He spent a year as head coach of the women's team before becoming assistant manager of the men's team in July 2018.

Following the departure of Erick Mombaerts, Kisnorbo was appointed head coach and led Melbourne City to a first ever A-League trophy in 2021 before leading them to their first A-League championship.

He has since moved to France and is the head coach of Ligue 1 outfit Troyes.

DEF: Andy Hughes

Hughes spent three-and-a-half seasons at Elland Road - amassing 139 appearances across all competitions for the Whites. Starting his career at Oldham Athletic in 1996, Hughes played for Notts County, Reading and Norwich City respectively before arriving at Leeds from the latter in 2007.

He spent six months at Scunthorpe United following his departure from Leeds in January 2011 before joining Charlton Athletic, where he won the League One title in 2012. Hughes joined Bolton Wanderers as Professional Development Coach in July 2014 and also continued his registration as a player.

Hughes took charge of the Trotters' first team on an interim basis after Dougie Freedman's departure - losing 2-1 against AFC Bournemouth in October 2014. He has served roles at Rotherham United, Crystal Palace, Huddersfield Town, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday respectively. He has worked at Norwich City since 2021, initially as head of Loans and player pathway development, before being appointed as a first team coach earlier this season.

MID: Jonny Howson

Howson when 21 at the time and it was his pinpoint long ball that set-up the Jermaine Beckford's decisive first half goal. The former England U21 international joined Leeds's youth system in 1997 and quickly established himself as a first team regular during the 2007/08 season.

Middlesbrough's Jonny Howson (CameraSport - Dave Howarth)

After scoring 28 times in 225 outings in six seasons for the Whites, Howson made the step-up to the Premier League at Norwich City in 2012. He played over 100 times in the top-flight for the Canaries and has spent the last five seasons with Middlesbrough in the Championship.

The 34-year-old remains a regular at the Riverside Stadium as club captain. At the time of writing, Howson has played 651 competitive games during his professional career, scoring 57 and providing 61 assists.

MID: Michael Doyle

Doyle spent the 2009/10 season on-loan at Leeds from Coventry City, where he had been a first team regular since 2003. He played 52 times across all competitions in the heart of midfield for Leeds as they achieved automatic promotion to the Championship.

He went onto play 231 times during a four-and-a-half year stay at Sheffield United and made a further 96 appearances in two seasons at Portsmouth. A return to Coventry would follow in 2017 and he helped guide his former club to promotion via the League Two play-offs.

Doyle finished his career at Notts County, spending his final two seasons at Meadow Lane in the National League following their relegation from the Football League in 2019. He became assistant manager of Notts County in June 2021 and followed Ian Burchnall to Gloucestershire to work as his assistant at Forest Green Rovers this summer before their departure earlier this year.

MID: Neil Kilkenny

Kilkenny started his career in the Premier League with Birmingham City but joined Leeds in January 2008 after two successful loan spells at Oldham Athletic. He formed an impressive midfield partnership with Doyle as Leeds achieved promotion to the Championship in 2010 but left for Bristol City in 2011 after making 144 appearances for the Whites.

The former Australia international spent three seasons with Bristol City and a further three years at Preston North End, before moving to Australia to join Melbourne City. Kilkenny has forged a successful career Down Under - winning the A-League Premiership with Perth Glory in 2019 and the A-League Men Championship with Western United last season.

He was named in the PFA A-League Men's Team of the Season in 2018/19 and 2021/22 respectively The 36-year-old has been capped 13 times by the Socceroos although he hasn't featured for his country since February 2012.

MID: Bradley Johnson

Johnson, who was once on Arsenal's books, worked his way up the footballing ladder. He was spotted by Cambridge United while playing for non-league Waltham Forest and joined Northampton Town in 2005.

He was sent out on loan to Gravesend & Northfleet and Stevenage Borough respectively before he broke into Northampton's first team during the second half of the 2006/07 season. Johnson joined Leeds in January 2008 and played 47 times during the Whites' 2009/10 promotion-winning campaign.

After impressing during his first season in the Championship, Johnson joined Premier League side Norwich, where he'd later be joined by Howson. Johnson spent three seasons in the top-flight with the Canaries and scored 15 times in the 2014/15 season as Norwich secured an immediate return to the Premier League in 2015.

Johnson would play just five times for Norwich in 2015/16 and he soon returned to the Championship with Derby County. The 35-year-old spent five seasons at Pride Park and a further three years at Blackburn Rovers. He left Ewood Park in the summer to join MK Dons and has scored five times in League One so far this season.

FOR: Luciano Becchio

Becchio became a hero at Elland Road after arriving from Spanish outfit Merida in 2008. The Argentinian forward was a product of the Boca Juniors academy and had also had a stint with Barcelona B before his spell at Leeds.

He scored 86 times in 221 appearances for Leeds, forming a formidable attacking partnership with Beckford, as the Whites won promotion to the Championship. Becchio remained a constant provider of goals when Beckford left for the Premier League in 2010.

After scoring 19 times in his 31 games during the first half of the 2012/13 season, Becchio followed his former teammates Howson, Johnson and Robert Snodgrass to Carrow Road.

He failed to replicate his goal scoring heroics at Norwich, albeit through a limited number of opportunities. Becchio had two separate spells at Rotherham United, the first on loan, and returned to Argentina with first-tier Belgrano.

Becchio finished his career in Spain with Atletico Baleares and CD Binissalem respectively. The 38-year-old has worked as assistant manager of Atletico Baleares since retiring in 2018.

FOR: Jermaine Beckford

Beckford was the man who provided the decisive strike. He plucked Howson's long ball from out of the air with a touch that sent him slightly wide of goal before applying a deft finish beyond a hapless Tomasz Kuszczak.

He also had another chance to double his tally when his low shot whistled wide of the bottom corner. The former Chelsea youth player was spotted by Leeds during a free-scoring spell in non-league with Wealdstone. Beckford spent two loan spells at Carlisle United and Scunthorpe United respectively before breaking into the first team in 2007/08.

He scored 85 times in 152 appearances for the Whites, including 65 in his final two seasons at Elland Road. A move to Everton would be his reward for his incredible form at Leeds and Beckford marked his debut season with 10 goals across all competitions at Goodison Park.

Beckford joined Championship side Leicester City in 2011 and enjoyed further spells at Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End. He concluded his career at Bury and now works as a television pundit.

Subs:

DEF: Lubomir Michalik

Michalik made 49 appearances during his time at Leeds. He went onto play for Carlisle United and Portsmouth respectively before embarking on a nomadic career with spells in Kazakhstan and Slovakia. The former Slovakia international is still playing at the age of 39 after joining Nove Zamsky in the summer.

MID: Aidy White

White was a promising prospect from the academy system and played 106 times for Leeds. He left Elland Road for Rotherham in 2015 but joined Barnsley after making only 10 appearances for the Millers.

He was also unable to pin down a regular place at Oakwell and moved to Scottish side Hearts. His first season ended in relegation and White joined Rochdale in League Two at the end of his second season in Edinburgh.

MID: Robert Snodgrass

Snodgrass crashed a free-kick against the post late in the second half after coming off the bench at Old Trafford. The Scotsman had been plucked from Livingston in 2008 and became a key player during his four seasons at Leeds.

He would go onto enjoy spells in the Premier League with Norwich, Hull City, West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion, as well in the Championship with Aston Villa.

The 36-year-old spent the second half of last season at Luton Town and returned to Scotland with Hearts during the summer after 14 years in England.

READ MORE:

Go here for all the latest Leeds United news

Leeds United news as Victor Orta travels to Madrid to 'negotiate a deal' for Andoni Iraola

Leeds United squad revealed for Manchester United clash as defensive options boosted

Leeds United looking to insiders to leverage Manchester United advantage

Michael Skubala on his Gareth Southgate relationship and prospect of Leeds United advice

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.