There are aren’t many clubs that have the impact Leeds United have on a player. The kind of club that gets under your skin and for some players, ends up being the final move of their career.
They stop searching for greener pastures when they get to Leeds. The size of the club, the atmosphere at Elland Road, the passion of a fanbase that is born out of a one-club city – Leeds are a sleeping giant.
Daniel Farke is a step closer to delivering Leeds closer back to where The Whites belong, in the top half of the Premier League at the very least. But there is a long way to go and there is much work to be done.
However, Leeds will always have that pull and that attraction. If and when players do leave, it has that lasting effect – players become fans of the club when they depart and that is the case for Mirco Antenucci.
Mirco Antenucci says he has Leeds United nicknamed tattooed
The effervescent striker was one of 14 signings made in Massimo Cellino’s first summer as president at Elland Road alongside the likes of club legends Liam Cooper and Gaetano Berardi, and plenty of others.
He lasted two years at Leeds, choosing to leave the club on a free. In that time, 80 appearances for the club and 26 goal involvements – scoring 19 himself. He provided Leeds fans with moments of magic.
A bit of hope during two season which fell down the back of Leeds United’s last 20 years. But for the Italian who is still playing now at 40, he loved his time at Leeds and says he has “fear the beard” inked.
“The fans dedicated a chant to me, ‘Antenucci baby’. It motivated me. They nicknamed me ‘Fear the Beard’. I have a tattoo of it on my arm. Leeds is a top club,a population of over 1m and fans everywhere.”
Why Mirco Antenucci left Leeds United after just two seasons
The striker explains he wanted to return to Italy where his family were situated, Antenucci even rejecting offers from Wolves and Birmingham City. He has played his while career in Italy, apart from Leeds.
That career is still ongoing, scoring a brace on his 40th birthday for third-tier Italian side SPAL where he is currently captain and enjoying what will be his final season. Nearly 750 games, and a huge 217 goals.
Antenucci has enjoyed a wonderful career with the highlight probably starring for SPAL in Serie A until they were relegated. That and of course, winning £50 off Steve Evans in training for scoring lots of goals.
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