It has been over 20 years since Leeds United last played in a UEFA competition, but one football executive now wants to give second-tier clubs a chance to participate at European level.
Between 1999 and 2003, Leeds played in either the UEFA Cup or Champions League in five successive seasons, reaching the semi-finals of each competition in 2000 and 2001 respectively.
With Marcelo Bielsa at the helm, Leeds were just three points – and a chunk of goal difference – from a place in the 2021-22 Europa Conference League.
Notably, the Whites have also won two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups, the precursor to the UEFA Cup, in 1968 and 1971. Those were just a pair of the nine trophies won under Don Revie.
In the modern era, European football is financially transformative for any team, with the Champions League pot worth over £2bn and expected to rise with the new competition format
Admittedly, the Europa League and Conference League pots are worth just a fraction of that figure, but the junior competitions can also be very lucrative for clubs outside the traditional elite.
Now, an Italian football powerbroker has launched a serious campaign to let second-tier clubs in Europe get in on the act.
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Eugenio Guarascio’s proposal for a new European competition
Eugenio Guarascio, the outspoken president of Italian Serie B side Cozenza Calcio, has been in charge of his club since 2011.
He has always been vocal around matters of club governance in the Italian league system, and now he is widening his lens to European football.
As reported by Italian media, Guarascio is in the process of putting together a proposal for a new international competition for second division clubs.
Guarascio wants to address economic challenges in Serie B, where many clubs make substantial financial losses – just as they do in the Championship.
As probably the biggest international draw in the Championship, Leeds would likely be courted by Guarascio if he was able to successfully organise such a competition.
The idea is to foster collaboration between second-tier clubs, but it would require the approval of FIFA, UEFA and other necessary regulators.
It goes without saying that Leeds, who are planning to expand Elland Road to satisfy huge demand for tickets, see themselves as a Premier League team in the near future.
But should they fail to win promotion under Daniel Farke and with parachute payments set to be reduced next season, anything that can generate more cash will be considered.
Another new European competition – how likely is it?
In short, not very.
It seems unlikely that – unless there was a massive headwind behind the idea – that UEFA would give their blessing to the tournament.
It could theoretically be organised as an exhibition competition of sorts.
But with the likes of Leeds able to generate big sums from pre-season friendlies against top teams, that might not be considered a financially viable option.
That is before one considers the match calendar, with Leeds already guaranteed to play a bare minimum of 48 domestic matches this season.
Organisations such as the newly formed Union of European Clubs are attempting to give second-tier clubs more of a voice when it comes to matters of governance.
But the power very much lies with the established elite, and while that remains the case, it seems unlikely that Guarascio will ever see the light of day.
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