Leeds United hero Mateusz Klich was a fan favourite and one of Marcelo Bielsa’s most consistent players, but he almost joined Middlesbrough.
There were many key components of that Leeds United team, from Pablo Hernandez and Luke Ayling who have since left the club for pastures new, to the likes of Patrick Bamford and Illan Meslier — both of whom remained with the club in 2024/25.
Mateusz Klich is one player who was a vital part under Bielsa for many years. The Pole was a huge fan favourite at Elland Road, with his consistency and availability particularly crucial to the way Leeds played under the Argentine.
Not only that, but Klich actually netted the first competitive goal of the Bielsa era as he fired home the opener inside 15 minutes of their first Championship game of the season. Klich’s goal came against recently-relegated Stoke City.
Mateusz Klich explains the story of how he almost joined Middlesbrough
Despite initially struggling to break into Thomas Christiansen’s plans consistently, thus heading back to the Netherlands for a stint on loan with FC Utrecht, Klich managed to impress Bielsa in pre-season during the summer of 2018.
Under Bielsa, the Polish international midfielder then became influential and turned his career at Elland Road around, scoring or assisting 19 goals in 50 games as a virtually ever-present fixture in the team in 2018/19.
That consistency and availability continued into 2019/20, with Klich’s engine and technical quality again key to Leeds’ success, where Leeds managed to go one better and win promotion from the Championship under Bielsa during the 2019/20 season.
Klich started in 45 of 46 league games and registered six goals and five assists, while signing a new four-and-a-half-year deal in a clear sign that he was there to stay as an important cog in the Argentine’s system.
Per quotes from Teesside Live in 2020, things could have been very different for Klich in 2017. He almost joined Middlesbrough over Leeds that summer, but eventually the move to Leeds came to fruition instead.
The midfielder has explained why, speaking to Polish YouTube channel Foot Truck this week. Klich’s Raphinha and Leeds admission was just one of many he confessed. On Boro, he said: “I still remember.
“I still remember that conversation when the manager called me and told me about the Championship. I was playing on my PC at the time and I said no. It was a decision, another decision. I remember I said to Magda (Klich’s partner), ‘should we go to England?’
“If it was a Bundesliga 2 team, then no. But England always had something that attracted the players and me. I flew to Middlesbrough. I don’t know if you know the story.
“Victor Orta was the Sporting Director there. When he left for Leeds, he left a list of players. I was in first place. I flew to Middlesbrough, landed in Leeds airport, and the manager said we’re going to Leeds.”
The rest, as they say, is history. Klich scored one of his best goals for Leeds against Boro in a 4-0 win at Elland Road. He also bagged a crucial winner for Leeds at The Riverside as well (pictured at the top of the page).
It rubs salt in the wounds of Boro. But Klich absolutely loves Leeds and watching them still to this day. Klich has had interactions with Larry Nance while he has been in the USA after leaving Leeds.
Leeds have finally replaced one particular aspect of Mateusz Klich
Klich became a player who had his fair share of moments in getting under the opposition’s skin or in winding up the opponent in some sort of way.
From squirting bottles at players, to his binoculars away at Derby County, Klich was renowned for moments which endeared him to the Leeds fans, as well as his impressive performances on the pitch, particularly during those first two seasons in the Championship.
On 4 January 2023, Klich played his last game for Leeds, with his teammates changing into shirts with Klich’s face on and forming a guard of honour to applaud him off the pitch.
He was loved by all involved in West Yorkshire, but Leeds have finally replaced Klich through Anton Stach. The German’s antics are reminiscent of Klich, which is why he is on the way to securing cult hero status.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
