Tony Yeboah will forever be remembered by Leeds United fans for the incredible goals he scored in the mid-90s, but the feeling’s mutual.
The former Ghana international is a certified cult hero after his powerfully hit strikes against Liverpool and Wimbledon, two of the greatest goals in Premier League history.
He was back in Leeds last month to mark the club’s centenary celebrations, revealing it was actually his strike against Liverpool, the club he supported growing up, .
Speaking to the media at United’s 100th birthday bash, it was clear Leeds still means everything to him, having originally joined the club from Eintracht Frankfurt in 1995.
“Fantastic,” Yeboah responded when asked what the club means to him.
“Without Leeds United, I’m not Tony Yeboah. The Leeds United fans, I’m always saying, my first game against QPR, the support they gave to me was magnificent, was unbelievable.
“It wasn’t a good touch, but in the stadium, they were clapping, they were cheering, I knew I was going to do something here. I want to say thank you very much to the Leeds United fans.”
Yeboah scored 32 goals in 66 appearances for the Whites, but left early in his third season at the club after clashing with new manager George Graham.
He went back to the Bundesliga to play for Hamburg, and played for a further four seasons before retiring at Qatari club Al-Gharafa SC in 2002.
“Even when Leeds were in the third division, still the fans support,” he added.
“I played in Germany - Hamburg, Frankfurt - but when you compare to Leeds fans, no way, they have fantastic fans.
“In the second, third division, 30 or 35,000 people in the stadium, it’s unbelievable. For me the team deserves to be in the Premier League, and we all keep our fingers crossed for the next season for Leeds to be in the Premier League.”
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