Leeds United completed the signing of Tomas Brolin 30 years ago on this day, in a deal which should serve as a warning over any move for Troy Parrott.
Troy Parrott is the name on every football fan’s lips, particularly in Ireland, after his five goals in two games saw him emerge as the standout performer of the international break.
His incredible form has seemingly sparked the Whites into life in the transfer market, as Leeds have reportedly opened talks with the striker over a big-money move.
Former Tottenham striker Parrott is in prolific form this season, having scored just under a goal a game for AZ Alkmaar in all competitions, in addition to his five goals for Ireland.
However, legendary former Leeds boss Howard Wilkinson learned not to sign players based solely on their international form on this day 30 years ago, as Leeds completed a signing that would become notorious in the club’s history.
Leeds United completed record transfer for Tomas Brolin in 1995
Brolin-Dahlin-Brolin-Brilliant! This was the immortal line uttered by commentator Barry Davies as Sweden upset England at Euro ’92.
For most Leeds fans, this was their first impression of Parma striker Tomas Brolin, who would eventually move to Elland Road in November 1995.
Brolin also starred at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, prompting Wilkinson to sanction a £4.5 million move for the Swede, which made him the most expensive foreign player in British football at the time.
However, Leeds did not sign the Brolin that shone for Sweden on the international stage, as a broken foot, suffered in November 1994, sparked a loss of form and fitness that would plague him for the rest of his career.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, via Newspapers.com, after signing for Leeds, Brolin admitted that he would need time to regain his fitness, stating: “I am not on top form now, but I hope to be in a month. I hope you respect that, and then I will show you what kind of player I am.”
Sadly for Leeds and Brolin, that day never came. Now, 30 years on from that disastrous signing, the 49ers should be careful before sanctioning a significant transfer spend on Parrott.
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Daniel Farke is unlikely to repeat Howard Wilkinson’s Tomas Brolin error
Although Brolin struggled for form and fitness during his time with Leeds, he was not helped to fit into the team by his manager.
Wilkinson persistently played Brolin out of position, using him on the right wing, as opposed to centrally, and asking him to do more defensive work.
This became a bone of contention between the two, as Brolin went on to claim, via The Guardian, that he played poorly against Liverpool deliberately as a protest.
Brolin said: “At Leeds, I was going to run up and down the right like an idiot. That wasn’t me. So I decided … I was going to be p— poor against Liverpool.”
Thankfully, if Parrott does join Leeds, a lack of options in attack means Daniel Farke will be desperate to get the best out of him and play him in the best position to do so.
At 23 years old and with a relatively clear injury history, Parrott’s profile looks a much better fit for Leeds today than Brolin’s did for Wilkinson’s side in the mid-90s.
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