1997–98 Leeds United A.F.C. season
1997–98 season of Leeds United
Leeds United 1997–98 football season
| 1997–98 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Bill Fotherby (until 23 June) Peter Ridsdale |
| Manager | George Graham |
| Stadium | Elland Road |
| Premiership | 5th |
| FA Cup | Quarter finals |
| League Cup | Fourth round |
| Top goalscorer | League: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (16) All: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (22) |
| Highest home attendance | 39,952 vs Manchester United (27 September 1997, Premier League) |
| Lowest home attendance | 8,806 vs Bristol City (17 September 1997, League Cup) |
| Average home league attendance | 34,725 |
During the 1997–98 season, Leeds United competed in the Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons).
Season summary
After a goal-shy Leeds side managed only an 11th-place finish the previous season, the acquisition of Dutch striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink bolstered their attack substantially and they were soon back to their winning ways after two seasons of struggle. George Graham's hard work in his second season as manager soon paid off with a fifth-place finish – the club's highest for three years – and UEFA Cup qualification.
Final league table
| Pos | Team
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Liverpool | 38 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 68 | 42 | +26 | 65 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Chelsea | 38 | 20 | 3 | 15 | 71 | 43 | +28 | 63 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[a] |
| 5 | Leeds United | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 59 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[b] |
| 6 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 57 | 52 | +5 | 58 | |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 38 | 17 | 6 | 15 | 49 | 48 | +1 | 57 |
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Notes:
- ^ Chelsea qualified for the Cup Winners' Cup as defending champions. As they were also the League Cup winners, the UEFA Cup berth vacated was awarded to Blackburn Rovers.
- ^ Aston Villa was rewarded entry to the UEFA Cup through UEFA Fair Play ranking.
- Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 59 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 21 | +10 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 26 | 25 | +1 |
Source: 1997–98 FA Premier League table
- Results by round
Source: 11v11.com: 1997–98 Leeds United results
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Results
Leeds United's score comes first[1]
Legend
| Win | Draw | Loss |
FA Premier League
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 August 1997 | Arsenal | H | 1–1 | 37,993 | Hasselbaink |
| 13 August 1997 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 3–1 | 31,520 | Wallace (2), Ribeiro |
| 23 August 1997 | Crystal Palace | H | 0–2 | 29,076 | |
| 26 August 1997 | Liverpool | H | 0–2 | 39,775 | |
| 30 August 1997 | Aston Villa | A | 0–1 | 39,027 | |
| 14 September 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 4–3 | 21,956 | Wallace (2), Molenaar, Hopkin |
| 20 September 1997 | Leicester City | H | 0–1 | 29,620 | |
| 24 September 1997 | Southampton | A | 2–0 | 15,102 | Molenaar, Wallace |
| 27 September 1997 | Manchester United | H | 1–0 | 39,952 | Wetherall |
| 4 October 1997 | Coventry City | A | 0–0 | 17,770 | |
| 18 October 1997 | Newcastle United | H | 4–1 | 39,834 | Ribeiro, Kewell, Beresford (own goal), Wetherall |
| 25 October 1997 | Wimbledon | A | 0–1 | 15,718 | |
| 1 November 1997 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–0 | 26,441 | Wallace |
| 8 November 1997 | Derby County | H | 4–3 | 33,572 | Wallace, Kewell, Hasselbaink (pen), Bowyer |
| 23 November 1997 | West Ham United | H | 3–1 | 30,031 | Hasselbaink (2), Haaland |
| 29 November 1997 | Barnsley | A | 3–2 | 18,690 | Haaland, Wallace, Lilley |
| 6 December 1997 | Everton | H | 0–0 | 34,869 | |
| 13 December 1997 | Chelsea | A | 0–0 | 34,690 | |
| 20 December 1997 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 2–0 | 31,163 | Ribeiro, Hasselbaink |
| 26 December 1997 | Liverpool | A | 1–3 | 43,854 | Haaland |
| 28 December 1997 | Aston Villa | H | 1–1 | 36,287 | Hasselbaink |
| 10 January 1998 | Arsenal | A | 1–2 | 38,018 | Hasselbaink |
| 17 January 1998 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–2 | 33,166 | Pembridge (own goal) |
| 31 January 1998 | Crystal Palace | A | 2–0 | 25,248 | Wallace, Hasselbaink |
| 7 February 1998 | Leicester City | A | 0–1 | 21,244 | |
| 22 February 1998 | Newcastle United | A | 1–1 | 36,511 | Wallace |
| 28 February 1998 | Southampton | H | 0–1 | 28,791 | |
| 4 March 1998 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–0 | 31,394 | Kewell |
| 11 March 1998 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 4–0 | 32,933 | Bowyer, Hasselbaink, Haaland (2) |
| 15 March 1998 | Derby County | A | 5–0 | 30,217 | Laursen (own goal), Halle, Bowyer, Kewell, Hasselbaink |
| 30 March 1998 | West Ham United | A | 0–3 | 24,107 | |
| 4 April 1998 | Barnsley | H | 2–1 | 37,749 | Hasselbaink, Moses (own goal) |
| 8 April 1998 | Chelsea | H | 3–1 | 37,276 | Hasselbaink (2), Wetherall |
| 11 April 1998 | Everton | A | 0–2 | 37,099 | |
| 18 April 1998 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 3–2 | 25,000 | Haaland, Halle, Hasselbaink |
| 25 April 1998 | Coventry City | H | 3–3 | 36,522 | Hasselbaink (2), Kewell |
| 4 May 1998 | Manchester United | A | 0–3 | 55,167 | |
| 10 May 1998 | Wimbledon | H | 1–1 | 38,172 | Haaland |
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R3 | 3 January 1998 | Oxford United | H | 4–0 | 20,568 | Radebe, Hasselbaink (pen), Kewell (2) |
| R4 | 24 January 1998 | Grimsby Town | H | 2–0 | 29,598 | Molenaar, Hasselbaink |
| R5 | 14 February 1998 | Birmingham City | H | 3–2 | 35,463 | Wallace, Hasselbaink (2) |
| QF | 7 March 1998 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 0–1 | 39,902 |
League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R2 1st leg | 17 September 1997 | Bristol City | H | 3–1 | 8,806 | Wetherall, Hasselbaink (pen), Ribeiro |
| R2 2nd leg | 30 September 1997 | Bristol City | A | 1–2 (won 4–3 on agg) | 10,857 | Hasselbaink |
| R3 | 15 October 1997 | Stoke City | A | 3–1 (a.e.t.) | 16,203 | Kewell, Wallace (2) |
| R4 | 18 November 1997 | Reading | H | 2–3 | 15,069 | Wetherall, Bowyer |
Players
First-team squad
- Squad at end of season[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Reserve squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Transfers
Transfers in
| Transfers out
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Total spending: 
£5,800,000
Loaned out
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Statistics
Appearances and goals
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Premier League | FA Cup | League Cup | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||
| Goalkeepers | |||||||||||||
| 1 | GK |  ENG | Nigel Martyn | 45 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 15 | GK | ENG | Mark Beeney | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Defenders | |||||||||||||
| 2 | DF |  IRL | Gary Kelly | 41 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 3 | DF |  SCO | David Robertson | 31 | 0 | 24+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 4 | DF |  NOR | Alfie Haaland | 37 | 7 | 26+6 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 5 | DF |  RSA | Lucas Radebe | 33 | 1 | 26+1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 6 | DF | ENG | David Wetherall | 41 | 5 | 33+1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 18 | DF | NOR | Gunnar Halle | 39 | 2 | 31+2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | ||
| 20 | DF | IRL | Ian Harte | 15 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 21 | DF |  AUT | Martin Hiden | 12 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 27 | DF | IRL | Alan Maybury | 15 | 0 | 9+3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 29 | DF | ENG | Mark Jackson | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 30 | DF |  NED | Robert Molenaar | 28 | 3 | 18+4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 | ||
| Midfielders | |||||||||||||
| 10 | MF |  POR | Bruno Ribeiro | 35 | 4 | 28+1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 | ||
| 11 | MF | ENG | Lee Bowyer | 31 | 4 | 21+4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 | ||
| 12 | MF | SCO | David Hopkin | 30 | 1 | 22+3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 19 | MF |  AUS | Harry Kewell | 35 | 8 | 26+3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 37 | MF | IRL | Stephen McPhail | 4 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Forwards | |||||||||||||
| 8 | FW | ENG | Rod Wallace | 39 | 13 | 29+2 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 9 | FW | NED | Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink | 40 | 22 | 30+3 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 17 | FW | SCO | Derek Lilley | 16 | 1 | 0+12 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | ||
| 35 | FW | ENG | Lee Matthews | 3 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Players who left the club during the season | |||||||||||||
Notes
- ^ Gray was born in Harrogate, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and would make his international debut for Scotland in April 2003.
- ^ McPhail was born in Westminster, England, but was raised in Dublin, the Republic of Ireland, and would make his international debut for Ireland in May 2000.
