Leeds United have announced that they will play against European giants AC Milan in a pre-season friendly this summer.
Their seven Champions League wins can only be bettered by Real Madrid, with Leeds United taking on Milan in Dublin on Saturday 9th August 2025 at 3.00pm.
The 51,700 capacity Aviva Stadium will play host to the Premier League club’s final pre-season friendly and is the second pre-season fixture which has been revealed so far.
The other comes against bitter rivals Manchester United. The two sides will meet in Stockholm on Saturday 19th July at the Strawberry Arena, with kick-off at 14.00pm.
However, the Milan announcement got us thinking about the players that have featured for both Milan and Leeds. It’s not a very long list, either.
The story of how Roque Junior played for Leeds and AC Milan
The August fixture will be the first time the two sides have met since the UEFA Champions League group stages in the 2000/2001 season, having only ever faced each other three times in all competitions previously.
Dom Matteo famously scored in a 1-1 draw at the San Siro, but the game at Elland Road ended 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Lee Bowyer. Just two seasons after that game, Leeds would sign the one and only player to feature for both teams.
Signing from AC Milan following the sides UEFA Champions League victory back in 2003, there was excitement at Elland Road when Peter Reid brought Roque Junior to Leeds on loan, but it was short-lived as the Brazil international struggled.
The defender saw his team concede 25 times in his seven appearances, failing to win and suffering six defeats with Roque being sent off on his home debut against Birmingham City. However, he did score two goals in a League Cup game against Manchester United.
Leeds lost 3-2 that day, and his spell with the club was a total and utter disaster overall, and Leeds quickly regretted the decision. Having also claimed World Cup glory just a year prior, the then 27-year-old would help plug the gap following the departures of Rio Ferdinand and Jonathan Woodgate.
| Team | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| AC Milan | 75 | 0 | 1 |
| Leeds United | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Brazil | 48 | 2 | 1 |
However, despite that hit to his reputation, he still made eight further appearances for Brazil after leaving West Yorkshire. That brought his overall total to 48 appearances for the national team, with many at Leeds wondering how he collected even one cap for his country let alone almost 50.
He is the only player to play for Leeds and Milan and was equally forgettable as he was unforgettable for the wrong reasons outside of that brace against Man United. Roque Junior even snubbed other clubs for Leeds.
Gary Kelly reacts to Leeds United vs AC Milan friendly announcement
Leeds have had some incredible Irish players, including the legendary Robbie Keane. The former Leeds and Tottenham striker scored 68 goals for his country.
Johnny Giles is one of Leeds’ best ever players, whilst nephew and uncle Ian Harte and Gary Kelly operated as the full-backs for Leeds during a time where playing clubs of Milan’s calibre was the norm.
Kelly played for Leeds for the entirety of his 15-year career, and he is excited to have Leeds play the European giants on what is home soil for him.
Speaking via LUTV, Kelly said: “Oh, it’s massive. Coming home, here in the beautiful Aviva, brand new stadium. I’d say that the tickets will go like wildfire once they go on sale.
“This fanbase is in every county in Ireland. I travel to all the home games and I see all the aeroplanes full, airports full.
“Every Saturday, it’s just amazing. Amazing support. We’re all marching on together and hopefully it’s just going to be a massive occasion for the Irish-based Leeds fans; it’s going to be amazing.
“It’s everyone’s dream to play the giants of European football, and AC Milan was one of them.”
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