Leeds United were established in 1919, following the expulsion of Leeds City (founded 1904) over an illegal payments scandal during the First World War. The club's most successful periods came in the mid 60s to mid 70s, late 80s to early 90s and late 90s to early 00s.

During these periods, the club won the old First Division three times, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (now known as the Europa League) twice, the Community Shield twice, one FA Cup and one League Cup in addition to winning promotion from the old Second Division twice (plus another time in 1924) as champions.

In the late 90s and early 00s, David O'Leary led a young Leeds United side to the top end of the Premier League, finishing 4th in the 1999/00 season before making a run to the semi-final of the Champions League in 2000/01.

Famous players to have graced the white shirt include Billy Bremner, Peter Lorimer, Norman Hunter, Eddie Gray, Allan Clarke, David Batty, Gordon Strachan, Gary Speed, Gary McAllister, Tony Yeboah, Alan Smith, Mark Viduka, Lee Bowyer, Jonathan Woodgate, James Milner, Paul Robinson and Fabian Delph.

The club's biggest rivals are Manchester United and Galatasaray. Other rivalries include Chelsea, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town and Millwall.

The club currently plays its games at Elland Road, having done so since its inception in 1919. The ground itself has sporting roots that can be traced back to 1878, having first been home to rugby league side Leeds Athletic. Back then, it was also known by a different name, the Old Peacock Ground, named after the pub that stood- and still does to this day- opposite the south end of the ground.

The pitch initially ran an East-West orientation until 1906, when the first (of only two to date) West Stand was built. Over the 1920s, banking was built up on the north and east sides.


Following a fire on the West Stand in 1956, a new stand was built, which still stands today. The north terrace- the Gelderd End- was eventually replaced by a more compact Kop in 1968, which is still as it is, plus seating which was installed in 1994 following the Taylor Report.


At the south end, a small terrace known as the Scratching Shed was built in around 1920. It was demolished and replaced by the South Stand in 1974 and besides a refurbishment in 2006, nothing has changed on that side since.


As for the terrace on the east, that stood until 1992 besides minor changes. It became know as the Lowfields Road Stand. The East Stand that we see today was completed in 1993, with a redevelopment in 2011.

Goalkeepers

Rob Green


Former England number 1 Rob Green signed for Leeds this summer on a free transfer, following the expiry of his contract at Queens Park Rangers. Although famed for his spill against USA in the 2010 World Cup, Green provides and experienced pair of hands and an invaluable education to the younger keepers at the club.

Marco Silvestri


Having been the club's first choice for the past two years, Silvestri will find himself fighting a little harder for his place than before, following the arrival of Rob Green. Silvestri has made his name at Elland Road for his abilities as a shot-stopper, but his handling can let him down, leading to some fans nicknaming him 'Spillvestri'

Ross Turnbull


Signed last summer by Uwe Rosler, Ross Turnbull arrived as the only player with a Champions League medal to his name, having been the reserve keeper for Chelsea when they won it in 2012. Normally backup to Silvestri, Turnbull will find himself further down the pecking order this season, and with Bailey Peacock-Farrell champing at the bit to get involved, Turnbull's spell at Leeds could well be cut short.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell


Normally, if there are three goalkeepers ahead of you in the pecking order, you might consider leaving. But not if you're this man. BPF- as his name is abbreviated- is still only 17 years of age and has already got a professional appearance to his name. The young academy-grown keeper has bags of potential, and could well step up once Green has retired and Turnbull has left, leaving just Silvestri in his way.

Defenders

Gaetano Berardi (R/L)


Signed from Genoa in the summer of 2014, Berardi is probably the most popular signing to have been made by Cellino's recruitment team that signed a total of 15 players in that window. He made himself a hero among the Leeds faithful with a series of combative performances, even if it meant putting his involvement in the match- whether through getting himself injured or sent off- at risk. Due to an injury picked up towards the end of last season, Leeds fans will have to wait a little while for his first appearance this season.

Luke Ayling (R/C)


Luke Ayling was signed from Bristol City this summer. Although his primary position is as a right-back, he spent most of last season playing at centre-back as part of a three-man defence for the Robins. He arrives with a good friend of his in centre-back Kyle Bartley, with whom he won the FA Youth Cup with Arsenal in 2009.

Lewie Coyle (R)


Another academy-grown talent, Lewie Coyle burst onto the scene last season in the absence of Berardi, as Steve Evans slowly realised that Scott Wootton was as much use at right-back as a chocolate fireguard. The 19-year-old certainly made a strong impression upon the Leeds faithful, but the honus is now on him to fight for his place, following the arrival of Luke Ayling.

Kyle Bartley (C)


Kyle Bartley arrives as a loan signing from Swansea City. The former Arsenal trainee has been struggling at the Swans of late, and a loan move to the Championship could be just what he needs.

Pontus Jansson (C)


Where do I go without singing his praises for his real-life form? Pontus Jansson arrives on a loan deal from Italian outfit Torino, having fallen out with the club's management. He's vowed that if he's not snapped up permanently by Leeds, he'll find someone else to take him on, whether it be permanent or on loan. He could be one to watch this season.

Liam Cooper (C/L)


Although mostly considered a first choice, Cooper will find it a little harder to get into the team this year, with the arrival of Bartley and Jansson. Cooper was signed from Chesterfield in 2014. He's proved a solid acquisition since then for the Whites and has been given captaincy roles in the past. In recent years, he's been the good cop to both Sol Bamba and Giuseppe Bellusci's bad cop.

Charlie Taylor (L)


Another fine example of the strength of Thorp Arch's production line, Charlie Taylor has been heavily linked with a move away from the club. His contract expires at the end of the season, so it's up to the club to either cash in on him now, or convince him to stay before the end of June.

Tyler Denton (L)


Seen as a viable backup should Charlie Taylor leave, Tyler Denton is another product of the academy. He's still only 19 and has bags of potential. He's already being tipped by the coaching staff as Charlie Taylor Version 2.0.

Midfielders

Hadi Sacko (R)


Hadi Sacko arrives on loan from Sporting CP with an option to make the deal permanent for around £2m. Leeds will thank their lucky stars they negotiated that clause, as his contract contains an automatic release clause worth £65m. He has bags of pace and could be a threat down the right hand side for Leeds this year.

Kemar Roofe (R/L)


Last season's League Two Player of the Year arrives from Oxford United for a fee of £3m. Roofe has pace and trickery to cause defences nightmares, and could be a potential wing partner to Hadi Sacko.

Stuart Dallas (R/L)


Not a fast winger by any stretch of the imagination, but a very clever and technical one. The Northern Irishman put in an admirable performance for his country in Euro 2016, coming on the back of Leeds United's Players' Player of the Year Award for an impressive debut season last year. Dallas will be hoping that he performs as well this season as he did last.

Liam Bridcutt (C)


Another player who impressed for Leeds last season, Liam Bridcutt arrives permanently this time around, after a successful loan spell earned him all the plaudits last season. The former Brighton holding midfielder has been made captain for this year, and will hope to be able to lead a young Leeds team by example.

Toumani Diagouraga (C)


Signed from Brentford back in January, Toumani Diagouraga is still yet to hold down a place in the starting XI at Elland Road. He makes a very strong holding midfielder, but the special ability of captain Bridcutt could be what's keeping him down the pecking order at the club. That, and the emergence of this next guy...

Ronaldo Vieira (C)


With a name like that, you'd be expecting big things. Having more Vieira than Ronaldo about him, this man is strong for a short lad and could well be running the midfield for Leeds over the next few years. He made an interesting first impression upon the Leeds fans with his performance on his debut, having been brought off the bench on the last day of the season at Preston.

Luke Murphy (C)


Luke Murphy arrived from Crewe for £1m in the summer of 2013, the club's first seven-figure signing since Richard Cresswell in 2005. Murphy has found himself in and out of the first team and whilst he's never consistently been something special, he's always been a solid player to have in the squad.

Alex Mowatt (C/L)


Mowatt set his stall out under Neil Redfearn in 2014/15, with a number of long range goals making him a favourite at Elland Road. His stall was well and truly knocked down by Rosler and Evans with the former limiting him to a number 8 role and the latter insisting on playing him on the left hand side. He needs more freedom to play in the middle and if he's given it, he'll have to fight for a new contract, as his current one expires at the end of the season.

Pablo Hernandez (AM)


A creative type, Hernandez made his name playing for Valencia and Swansea City. Hernandez signed for Qatari side Al-Arabi in 2014 and has since had loan spells at Al-Nassr and Rayo Vallecano. This move also comes as a loan deal, until January, and Hernandez will be hoping he can impress the gaffer and earn a permanent return to English football.

Strikers

Souleymane Doukara


Doukara was signed from Catania in the summer of 2014 initially on loan, although the deal was later made permanent for a fee of £1.5m. 'The Duke' has made mixed impressions upon the Leeds fanbase with some lamenting his lack of pace and goals as well as his part in the infamous 'Sicknote Six'; whilst others hail him for his strength on the ball and how well he holds it up for players around him.

Marcus Antonsson


A new arrival from Swedish outfit Kalmar FF, Antonsson will have played 16 months of competitive football by May, with the Swedish football calendar having started in January. Therefore, he could probably be forgiven for becoming a little tired as the season wears on, as Leeds fans found with Rodolph Austin, signed from SK Brann in the summer of 2012. He was top scorer in the Allsvenskan when he arrived at Leeds, having netted 10 times in 12 appearances.

Chris Wood


The New Zealand striker was the club's top scorer with 13 goals last season, following his £3m move from Leicester City last summer. Wood struggled with injury for a lot of last season, and with a full summer's rest behind him, he'll be hoping to get back to full goal-scoring form for the Whites.