Leeds United’s iconic striker Luciano Becchio was a fan favourite during his time at Elland Road from 2008- 2013.
Luciano Becchio quickly became a cult hero during Leeds United’s years in the wilderness for much of their time in the EFL over the last 17 years. In his first season in League One, the Argentine centre-forward notched 15 goals and an assist in 45 games.
However, he is most well known for a goal that year in a play-off campaign for the Whites, with a semi-final strike against Millwall at Elland Road, which still remains a popular goal among supporters despite them crashing out on aggregate.
Becchio has been at Elland Road watching Leeds on occasion since his departure from the club, and it’s clear Leeds had a lasting impression on the 41-year-old. However, very few of his teammates were Argentine, and one made a lasting impression.
Luciano Becchio reacts to Federico Bessone’s new role
Like many of this current Leeds squad, Becchio has been promoted himself, with a win over Bristol Rovers sealing the club’s promotion in 2010, and his own good form continued into the second tier after Jermaine Beckford left to join Everton.
It was that summer that Becchio was united with a fellow Argentine, and only the third one to ever play for Leeds. Federico Bessone joined Leeds from Swansea City and featured just eight times for Leeds that campaign.
The left-back did not have the same impact as his compatriot, with Becchio scoring 20 goals and collecting another nine assists in 44 games in all competitions that season, as Leeds finished seventh.
Bessone was loaned to Charlton Athletic and eventually re-joined Swansea after struggling for Leeds. He and Becchio were just 26 days apart in age terms, though, and it’s clear that they were close during their brief time together in West Yorkshire.
Becchio eventually left Leeds in 2013 with 87 goals and 20 assists in 221 games for the Whites. However, it’s evident Becchio still watches Leeds and has for many seasons.
Becchio blamed Neil Warnock for his Leeds departure but his legacy at Elland Road remains strong to this day. He retired in 2017 after spells in Spain and Argentina to end his career.
Meanwhile, Bessone has become a coach. He has spent time in roles with Inter Club d’Escaldes, Atlètic Club d’Escaldes, and FC Santa Coloma. However, Pete O’Rourke shared that he is headed to Slovenia with Olimpija Ljubljana.
Becchio took to Instagram to react, stating: “You’ll go far, old man. I love you very much.”
Luciano Becchio reflects on leaving Leeds for Norwich City
Becchio has been very active regarding Leeds players past and present recently, with the Argentine posting pictures of Jonny Howson and Jermaine Beckford at Thorp Arch.
Becchio also wished Mateo Joseph good luck with Mallorca and has been more active in general with Leeds fans on social media and at fan events to meet them.
He’s very much a ‘what could have been’ player, considering Leeds sold him to Norwich City and he did nothing. Per the Eastern Daily Press back in 2020, Becchio described feeling deflated at Norwich.
He said: “I went several times to meet with Leeds and tried to stay. I did my best but I saw no effort. I called (Neil) Warnock to meet him and see what could be done. We met but I didn’t get much of a response from him.
“I honestly don’t know if it was the coach’s wish for me to leave or if the club wanted to cash in on me. In the end, my family and I made a super-difficult decision.
“They never gave me an opportunity there and they never gave me the confidence a player needs. It was the complete opposite of Leeds.
“I never understood why that happened when the coach [Chris Hughton] was so insistent about me signing. I always kept working hard waiting for my opportunity. It never came.
“It was like going from touching the sky with your hands at Leeds to the opposite extreme. It was very tough.
“The worst moment was when we went down to the Championship [in 2014]. That year I wasn’t called upon at all and on many occasions they made me train with the under-21s. Mentally it kills you. I was sunk. I had a really bad time.”
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