| 1974–75 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Manny Cussins | ||
| Manager | Brian Clough(until 12 September 1974) Maurice Lindley(caretaker) Jimmy Armfield(from 4 October 1974) | ||
| Stadium | Elland Road | ||
| First Division | 9th | ||
| FA Cup | Quarter-finals | ||
| League Cup | Fourth round | ||
| European Cup | Runners-up | ||
| Charity Shield | Runners-up | ||
| Top goalscorer | League:Allan Clarke (14) All: Allan Clarke (22) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 50,393vsBarcelona (9 April 1975, European Cup) | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 14,599vsHuddersfield Town (7 October 1974, League Cup) | ||
| Average home league attendance | 34,496 | ||
The1974–75 season sawLeeds United compete in theFootball League First Division. As reigning English champions, they also competed in theEuropean Cup.
ManagerDon Revie left after many successful years at Leeds to manage the England side. He was replaced byBrighton & Hove Albion'sBrian Clough—this appointment raised many eyebrows, as Clough had often made public his disdain for both Revie and the playing style of his Leeds side, even clamouring for the club to be relegated on disciplinary grounds.
As it turned out, Clough only lasted 44 days at Elland Road. He alienated several key players likeJohnny Giles,Norman Hunter andBilly Bremner[1] and reportedly, in his first training session, told the players to "throw [their] medals in the bin because they were not won fairly."[2] After a poor start which saw Leeds in 19th place after one win from the opening six games and only 4 points from a possible 12 won, the Leeds directors sacked Clough.
Replacing Clough wasBolton Wanderers'Jimmy Armfield. Armfield, while unable to turn the club's fortunes around to finish higher than ninth, bought the Yorkshire club better success in the European Cup, with the club reaching the final againstBayern Munich in Paris. The German side won 2–0 with two goals in 10 minutes late in the second half, but Leeds could have won the match, having denied two strong penalty appeals for fouls by Bayern'sFranz Beckenbauer. Indeed, Leeds did get a goal in the 63rd minute, throughPeter Lorimer, but Beckenbauer successfully convinced refereeMichel Kitabdjian to consult with the linesman, who had not raised his flag; Kitabdijan subsequently indicated Lorimer was marginally offside. This decision to not allow the goal caused riots to break out amongst the travelling Leeds fans.
The violence during the riots saw Leeds banned from European competition for four years (later reduced to two on appeal);[3][4][5] but, as Leeds would not qualify for European competition again until 1979, the ban was never applied.
Nonetheless, bitterness remains amongst the Leeds fans even today, due to their perception of being cheated of victory and the European Cup. Over 40 years on, Leeds fans can still be heard chanting at away matches "We are the champions, champions of Europe".
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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| In | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| FW | Duncan McKenzie | Nottingham Forest | £250,000 |
| MF | John McGovern | Derby County | £75,000 |
| FW | John O'Hare | Derby County | £50,000 |
| Out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | To | Type |
| DF | Roy Ellam | Huddersfield Town | |
| DF | Nigel Davey | Rotherham United | |
| MF | Jimmy Mann | Bristol City | |
| In | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| Out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | To | Type |
| MF | John McGovern | Nottingham Forest | |
| FW | John O'Hare | Nottingham Forest | |
| DF | Terry Cooper | Middlesbrough | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 54 | 40 | 1.350 | 48 |
| 8 | Manchester City | 42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 54 | 54 | 1.000 | 46 |
| 9 | Leeds United | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 57 | 49 | 1.163 | 45 |
| 10 | Burnley | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 68 | 67 | 1.015 | 45 |
| 11 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 54 | 54 | 1.000 | 42 |
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 August 1974 | Stoke City | Away | 0–3 | — | 33,534 |
| 21 August 1974 | Queens Park Rangers | Home | 0–1 | — | 31,497 |
| 24 August 1974 | Birmingham City | Home | 1–0 | Clarke | 30,820 |
| 27 August 1974 | Queens Park Rangers | Away | 1–1 | Yorath | 24,965 |
| 31 August 1974 | Manchester City | Away | 1–2 | Clarke | 37,919 |
| 7 September 1974 | Luton Town | Home | 1–1 | Clarke | 26,450 |
| 14 September 1974 | Burnley | Away | 1–2 | Lorimer | 25,122 |
| 21 September 1974 | Sheffield United | Home | 5–1 | Clarke (2),McQueen, Lorimerpen., Yorath | 33,382 |
| 28 September 1974 | Everton | Away | 2–3 | Clarke, Yorath | 41,824 |
| 5 October 1974 | Arsenal | Home | 2–0 | McKenzie (2) | 32,784 |
| 12 October 1974 | Ipswich Town | Away | 0–0 | — | 29,815 |
| 15 October 1974 | Birmingham City | Away | 0–1 | — | 36,513 |
| 19 October 1974 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Home | 2–0 | Clarke, McKenzie | 31,224 |
| 26 October 1974 | Liverpool | Away | 0–1 | — | 54,996 |
| 2 November 1974 | Derby County | Home | 0–1 | — | 33,551 |
| 9 November 1974 | Coventry City | Away | 3–0 | O'Hare,Hindleyo.g.,Bremner | 25,414 |
| 16 November 1974 | Middlesbrough | Home | 2–2 | McKenzie (2) | 45,488 |
| 23 November 1974 | Carlisle United | Away | 2–1 | Jordan, McKenzie | 19,975 |
| 30 November 1974 | Chelsea | Home | 2–0 | Cherry, Clarke | 30,441 |
| 4 December 1974 | Tottenham Hotspur | Home | 2–1 | McKenzie, Lorimerpen. | 25,832 |
| 7 December 1974 | West Ham United | Away | 1–2 | McKenzie | 39,562 |
| 14 December 1974 | Stoke City | Home | 3–1 | McQueen, Lorimer, Yorath | 34,685 |
| 21 December 1974 | Newcastle United | Away | 0–3 | — | 32,535 |
| 26 December 1974 | Burnley | Home | 2–2 | Jordan, Lorimer | 34,724 |
| 28 December 1974 | Leicester City | Away | 2–0 | F. Gray, McKenzie | 29,699 |
| 11 January 1975 | West Ham United | Home | 2–1 | Clarke, McKenzie | 40,099 |
| 18 January 1975 | Chelsea | Away | 2–0 | McKenzie, Yorath | 34,733 |
| 1 February 1975 | Coventry City | Home | 0–0 | — | 33,901 |
| 8 February 1975 | Derby County | Away | 0–0 | — | 33,641 |
| 22 February 1975 | Middlesbrough | Away | 1–0 | Clarke | 39,500 |
| 25 February 1975 | Carlisle United | Home | 3–1 | Lorimer, Clarke,E. Gray | 32,346 |
| 1 March 1975 | Manchester City | Home | 2–2 | Lorimer (2) | 47,489 |
| 15 March 1975 | Everton | Home | 0–0 | — | 50,084 |
| 22 March 1975 | Luton Town | Away | 1–2 | Jordan | 23,048 |
| 29 March 1975 | Newcastle United | Home | 1–1 | Clarke | 40,994 |
| 31 March 1975 | Leicester City | Home | 2–2 | Clarke,Giles | 29,898 |
| 1 April 1975 | Sheffield United | Away | 1–1 | Madeley | 38,442 |
| 5 April 1975 | Liverpool | Home | 0–2 | — | 34,971 |
| 12 April 1975 | Arsenal | Away | 2–1 | Clarke,Hunter | 36,619 |
| 19 April 1975 | Ipswich Town | Home | 2–1 | Cherry,Harris | 30,174 |
| 26 April 1975 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Away | 1–1 | F. Gray | 34,875 |
| 28 April 1975 | Tottenham Hotspur | Away | 2–4 | Jordan, Lorimer | 49,886 |
| Liverpool | 1–1 | Leeds United |
|---|---|---|
| Boersma | Cherry | |
| Penalties | ||
| Lindsay Hughes Hall Smith Cormack Callaghan | 6–5 | |
![]() ![]() ![]() Liverpool | Leeds United |
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| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Third round | 4 January 1975 | Cardiff City | Home | 4–1 | E. Gray,Clarke (2),McKenzie | 31,572 |
| Fourth round | 24 January 1975 | Wimbledon | Home | 0–0 | — | 46,230 |
| Fourth round replay | 10 February 1975 | Wimbledon | Away[a] | 1–0 | Bassetto.g. | 45,071 |
| Fifth round | 18 February 1975 | Derby County | Away | 1–0 | Nisho.g. | 35,298 |
| Sixth round | 8 March 1975 | Ipswich Town | Away | 0–0 | — | 38,010 |
| Sixth round replay | 11 March 1975 | Ipswich Town | Home | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | McKenzie 90' | 50,074 |
| Sixth round second replay | 25 March 1975 | Ipswich Town | Neutral | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | — | 35,195 |
| Sixth round third replay | 27 March 1975 | Ipswich Town | Neutral | 2–3 | Clarke,Giles | 19,510 |
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second round | 10 September 1974 | Huddersfield Town | Away | 1–1 | Lorimer | 15,013 |
| Second round replay | 24 September 1974 | Huddersfield Town | Home | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Clarke | 18,496 |
| Second round second replay | 7 October 1974 | Huddersfield Town | Home | 2–1 | Bates, Lorimer | 14,599 |
| Third round | 9 October 1974 | Bury | Away | 2–1 | Lorimer,Cherry | 16,354 |
| Fourth round | 13 November 1974 | Chester | Away | 0–3 | — | 19,000 |
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First round, first leg | 28 September 1974 | FC Zürich | Home | 4–1 | Clarke (2),Lorimerpen.,Jordan | 20,012 |
| First round, second leg | 2 October 1974 | FC Zürich | Away | 1–2 | Clarke | 16,500 |
| Second round, first leg | 23 October 1974 | Újpest | Away | 2–1 | Lorimer,McQueen | 20,000 |
| Second round, second leg | 6 November 1974 | Újpest | Home | 3–0 | McQueen,Bremner,Yorath | 28,091 |
| Third round, first leg | 5 March 1975 | Anderlecht | Home | 3–0 | Jordan, McQueen, Lorimer | 43,195 |
| Third round, second leg | 19 March 1975 | Anderlecht | Away | 1–0 | Bremner | 37,000 |
| Semi-final, first leg | 9 April 1975 | Barcelona | Home | 2–1 | Bremner, Clarke | 50,393 |
| Semi-final, second leg | 24 April 1975 | Barcelona | Away | 1–1 | Lorimer | 110,000 |
| Final | 28 May 1975 | Bayern Munich | Neutral | 0–2 | — | 48,374 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Bayern Munich | ![]() Leeds United |
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At the end of the season, defenderGordon McQueen was named the club's Player of the Year.