With Leeds United now needing just three points from four games to return to the Premier League, they’re a hot topic in Europe.
United’s return is seen as something of a fairytale for the Euroepan press, who have been keen to teach their readers all about the club’s history.
Earlier this week we covered a piece on them from Spain that took a small detour through history and argued that Bielsa may be deserving of a statue alongside the great Don Revie.
Today De Telegraaf’s take a shot at it, dedicating a full spread to Leeds and even explaining why they’re often described as ‘dirty’.
Part of their magical history tour involved sitting down with some former United players – who just so happen to be Dutch – in the shape of Robert Molenaar and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to discuss their time at the club.
Hasselbaink, as many will be aware, was the star of the show at Elland Road for several years after arriving in a £2.5m deal from Boavista in 1997.
He went on to score 35 goals in the following two years, earning himself rave reviews and a place in the Netherlands squad for the World Cup in 1998, something he’s sure wouldn’t have happened otherwise.
By 1999 his relationship had soured, and a move to Atlético Madrid followed, although he insists he never wanted to leave Leeds.
“In Portugal, I got things back on track, but in England, the recognition came, and I played myself in the Holland national team. Thanks to Leeds I went to the World Cup in France,” he told the newspaper.
“It also played that Graham had left for Arsenal and I had the feeling that I didn’t fit in the picture of successor David O’Leary. I’d do it again in a minute.”
Despite only spending two years at the club, Hasselbaink’s memories of Elland Road are as fond as ever.
Leeds famous old ground is one of the darlings of English football, a tight-knit intimidating stadium that few clubs or players come out of unscathed.
And as far as Hasselbaink, who played in the biggest stadiums in the world during his day, is concerned, there’s nowhere noisier.
“The atmosphere there is unique, almost nowhere do they make more noise than on Elland Road.
“It’s an intimidating stadium, and I know it because I played there with Chelsea later on.
“And it’s always full. Even when they played on the third level, there were still 40,000 people there. The people are blind to their Leeds.”
Indeed, it’s fair to say that across the English football spectrum, Leeds fans are certainly the more passionate.
With no significant rivals in the city to contend with and a history that most clubs would kill for, the United fanbase is as devoted and impassioned as they come.
That’s something Hasselbaink is aware of, adding that with Leeds, it’s a relationship that lasts until the death.
“Leeds is the only significant club in Yorkshire; people are incredibly proud of United,” he added.
“Look: in London, you have countless professional clubs, in Manchester, you have City and United, and Liverpool has Liverpool and Everton.
“But Leeds only has Leeds. Whoever’s born is for Leeds. Until his death.”
