Lucas Radebe picked his favourite Leeds United centre-back partner during his 11-year stint at Elland Road in 2020

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When discussing modern-day legends at Leeds United, Lucas Radebe is at the forefront of any forthcoming list. The ‘Chief’ is one of the club’s most-iconic defenders, ever.

Joining Leeds back in 1994 at the age of 25 from South African giants Kaizer Chiefs, not many might have predicted the success or the longevity that Radebe would go on to provide Leeds over the next 11 years.

Fast forward to now and Liam Cooper left Leeds in the summer after a decade, and he certainly deserves legendary status like Radebe. Had it not been for injury, Radebe would have played more than 256 times.

A part of some wonderful years under Howard Wilkinson, the in-between years under George Graham and the Champions League dream under David O’Leary, Radebe stayed even after Leeds were relegated.

During that 11-year stint, Radebe played with some wonderful players at Leeds. The likes of Mark Viduka, Tony Yeboah, Gary Speed, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and plenty of others superstars to wear the shirt.

• READ MORE: Olivier Dacourt picks his favourite-ever Leeds teammate and it’s a surprise

Lucas Radebe picked his best centre-back partner at Leeds United

Radebe shared plenty of partners during his time at Elland Road. David Wetherall, Gunnar Halle, Alfie Haaland, Rio Ferdinand, Dom Matteo and plenty of others but it is another he picked as his best.

Speaking to Leeds United’s official website, Elland Road icon Radebe said that actually it was Jonathan Woodgate was his favourite defensive partner and explained why he loved playing with the England man.

“A good question [favourite centre-back partner]. You need to get along and forge an understanding, in terms of organisation at the back. I think Woodgate for me, having stepped up to the first team.

“He wanted to learn and he was a different player to me. He was young, he had pace so I could let him do the work and that allowed me to look from,” Radebe said, answering former Real Madrid man Woodgate.

Woodgate’s stats in numbers after seven-year stint at Leeds

Two years after Radebe’s arrival at Elland Road from South Africa, Leeds raided Middlesbrough’s youth academy for a 16-year-old talent called Jonathan Woodgate. He’d go on to play 142 times for The Whites.

Woodgate’s career stats in numbers:

A player that would also go and win eight England caps, but never really realise his potential. One that was easily good enough to play for Real Madrid, but could never remain injury free enough to impress.

Woodgate though, enjoyed his best years at Leeds. Ahead of his £9m move to Newcastle in 2003 under Sir Bobby Robson, Woodgate said he cried in leaving Leeds and perhaps in hindsight, wished he stayed.