It has now been two and a half years since that fateful day that saw Stuart Dallas suffer his horrendous knee injury that ultimately ended the Leeds United icon’s career.
The 33-year-old clocked up 267 appearances for Leeds. The Northern Ireland star was a key part of Leeds’ side, starring under Marcelo Bielsa and winning the Player of the Season award two seasons in a row.
But on April 30, during Jesse Marsch’s first few months in charge, Dallas went in for a tackle with Man City star Jack Grealish. The England man got there first, before accidentally making contact with the Leeds ace.
Grealish was side on and careered into Dallas’ knee. A player that doesn’t stay down, Leeds knew it was bad when Dallas did not want to get up and ended up bring stretchered off the pitch in April 2022.
Stuart Dallas on if he blames Man City’s Jack Grealish for injury
The versatile ace remained on the books at Leeds has he fought hard to overcome what was a femoral fracture, as well as the anterior cruciate ligament coming off the bone. He has since had seven surgeries.
The initial operation for Dallas took more than seven hours, and six further ops as well as manipulations. But Dallas never got back to the pitch and at the end of 23-24, the Leeds ace announced his retirement.
Dallas spoke about the injury in depth on Ben Foster’s Fozcast podcast. Foster said: “Do you know what’s mad as well, is it’s such a nothing challenge. You can excuse Jack Grealish, he’s not trying to do anything.
“He’s not trying to hurt you. He’s just trying to save himself from injury. You’d never in a million years think that much damage could be done,” Foster added. Dallas said: “No, no [on it being Grealish’s fault].
“It’s like a car crash. If you’re driving and a car hits you full on. I don’t think it’s ever been seen before. A jigsaw putting it together. Andy Williams (knee specialist) said it is the worst injury he’s seen in 30 years.”
What next for Stuart Dallas as he makes coaching steps
Following Dallas’ retirement before the play-offs at the end of the 2023-24 season, Leeds spoke to Dallas about a coaching role. Whether there’s been any further talks of a coaching position remains to be seen.
The Leeds icon has been doing media work, even working for LUTV this season. Dallas has also been seen doing coaching with Northern Ireland, both for the senior team and the Northern Ireland youth sides.
But it is an incredibly sad story that Dallas, a fan favourite at Leeds and a crucial player for the club, is now retired and his career has come to an end a whole lot earlier that it should have done.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
