The 1974–75 season saw Leeds United compete in the Football League First Division. As reigning English champions, they also competed in the European Cup.

Season summary Manager Don Revie left after many successful years at Leeds to manage the England side. He was replaced by Brighton & Hove Albion's Brian 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 like Johnny Giles, Norman Hunter and Billy Bremner and reportedly, in his first training session, told the players to "throw [their] medals in the bin because they were not won fairly." 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 was Bolton 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 against Bayern Munich in Paris. The German side won 2–0 in controversial circumstances, 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's Franz Beckenbauer. Indeed, Leeds did get a goal in the 63rd minute, through Peter Lorimer, but Beckenbauer successfully convinced referee Michel 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);' 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 50 years on, Leeds fans can still be heard chanting at away matches "We are the champions, champions of Europe".

Squad

Left club during season

Transfers

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

Winter

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

Competitions First Division

Table

Results WinDrawLoss + First Division match detailsDateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceStoke CityAway0–3—33,534Queens Park RangersHome0–1—31,497Birmingham CityHome1–0Clarke30,820Queens Park RangersAway1–1Yorath24,965Manchester CityAway1–2Clarke37,919Luton TownHome1–1Clarke26,450BurnleyAway1–2Lorimer25,122Sheffield UnitedHome5–1Clarke (2), McQueen, Lorimer pen., Yorath33,382EvertonAway2–3Clarke, Yorath41,824ArsenalHome2–0McKenzie (2)32,784Ipswich TownAway0–0—29,815Birmingham CityAway0–1—36,513Wolverhampton WanderersHome2–0Clarke, McKenzie31,224LiverpoolAway0–1—54,996Derby CountyHome0–1—33,551Coventry CityAway3–0O'Hare, Hindley o.g., Bremner25,414MiddlesbroughHome2–2McKenzie (2)45,488Carlisle UnitedAway2–1Jordan, McKenzie19,975ChelseaHome2–0Cherry, Clarke30,441Tottenham HotspurHome2–1McKenzie, Lorimer pen.25,832West Ham UnitedAway1–2McKenzie39,562Stoke CityHome3–1McQueen, Lorimer, Yorath34,685Newcastle UnitedAway0–3—32,535BurnleyHome2–2Jordan, Lorimer34,724Leicester CityAway2–0F. Gray, McKenzie29,699West Ham UnitedHome2–1Clarke, McKenzie40,099ChelseaAway2–0McKenzie, Yorath34,733Coventry CityHome0–0—33,901Derby CountyAway0–0—33,641MiddlesbroughAway1–0Clarke39,500Carlisle UnitedHome3–1Lorimer, Clarke, E. Gray32,346Manchester CityHome2–2Lorimer (2)47,489EvertonHome0–0—50,084Luton TownAway1–2Jordan23,048Newcastle UnitedHome1–1Clarke40,994Leicester CityHome2–2Clarke, Giles29,898Sheffield UnitedAway1–1Madeley38,442LiverpoolHome0–2—34,971ArsenalAway2–1Clarke, Hunter36,619Ipswich TownHome2–1Cherry, Harris30,174Wolverhampton WanderersAway1–1F. Gray34,875Tottenham HotspurAway2–4Jordan, Lorimer49,886

FA Charity Shield

FA Cup

WinDrawLoss + FA Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceCardiff CityHome4–1E. Gray, Clarke (2), McKenzie31,572WimbledonHome0–0—46,230WimbledonAway1–0Bassett o.g.45,071Derby CountyAway1–0Nish o.g.35,298Ipswich TownAway0–0—38,010Ipswich TownHome1–1 McKenzie 90'50,074Ipswich TownNeutral0–0 —35,195Ipswich TownNeutral2–3Clarke, Giles19,510

League Cup

WinDrawLoss + League Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceHuddersfield TownAway1–1Lorimer15,013Huddersfield TownHome1–1 Clarke18,496Huddersfield TownHome2–1Bates, Lorimer14,599BuryAway2–1Lorimer, Cherry16,354ChesterAway0–3—19,000

European Cup

WinDrawLoss + European Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceFC ZürichHome4–1Clarke (2), Lorimer pen., Jordan20,012FC ZürichAway1–2Clarke16,500ÚjpestAway2–1Lorimer, McQueen20,000ÚjpestHome3–0McQueen, Bremner, Yorath28,091AnderlechtHome3–0Jordan, McQueen, Lorimer43,195AnderlechtAway1–0Bremner37,000BarcelonaHome2–1Bremner, Clarke50,393BarcelonaAway1–1Lorimer110,000Bayern MunichNeutral0–2—48,374

Final

Awards At the end of the season, defender Gordon McQueen was named the club's Player of the Year.

Notes

References