Alan Smith arrived for Leeds United with his Liverpool goal but his best game was four years later

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Alan Smith burst onto the scene for Leeds United on this day in 1998 when he scored his famous debut goal against Liverpool at Anfield.

There was a sense of optimism around Elland Road as the next generation of talent was beginning to force its way into the Leeds United first team.

Future stars such as Harry Kewell, Jonathan Woodgate and Ian Harte would all make their debuts in this era, becoming Leeds regulars before the turn of the millennium under head coach David O’Leary.

Alan Smith enjoyed the most dramatic introduction to life at Leeds when he scored within just three minutes of coming on as a substitute at Anfield, as the Whites secured a famous 3-1 victory.

However, his best performance in a Leeds shirt came on the same day four years later, when he scored four goals as Leeds secured a 4-1 win over Hapoel Tel Aviv in the UEFA Cup.

Alan Smith scored four for Leeds United on this day in 2002

Smith is now best remembered for his all-action style, constantly toeing the line between aggression and recklessness.

However, he was a fine finisher during his time at Leeds, as was demonstrated by the Whites’ demolition of their Israeli opponents in 2002.

Having secured a 1-0 win at Elland Road in the home leg, Leeds actually fell behind after two minutes, with the game being played on neutral territory. However, Leeds soon took control of the tie.

His first goal came with a neat left-footed finish after some crisp interplay with Eirik Bakke on the edge of the box after 30 minutes.

Smith added his second 10 minutes after the break, chasing down what appeared to be a lost cause, before beating the Hapoel keeper to the ball and hooking home from a tight angle. His hat-trick came from a rebound, after his initial header was parried back to his feet just after the hour mark.

He made no mistake with his headed fourth, finding space in the centre of the box to nod home a pinpoint cross from Harry Kewell. But beyond Smith’s goals, this was a typical display from the ever-diligent forward, as he played as Leeds’ sole striker and led the line brilliantly.

Although his goal against Liverpool may be his most famous goal for the club, his four against Hapoel Tel Aviv represented the perfect distillation of why fans loved him so much.

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Alan Smith credits single-mindedness for Leeds United success

Speaking to the Daily Mirror in 2018, Smith reflected on the journey that took him from a prodigiously talented 17-year-old to his four-goal heroics in the UEFA Cup.

According to Smith, his sheer single-mindedness was the main factor in his success, as he looked to prove those who doubted him wrong.

Smith said: “I was a kid at 17 who respected and looked up to all players, but when you were out there on the pitch, you had to compete, and you couldn’t show them respect. You have to believe in yourself.

“At Leeds, at one stage, people kept thinking, ‘He keeps getting in trouble with his discipline, maybe he is too emotional to play for the club.’ But we then went away to Fiorentina to play against Tel Aviv, and I scored four goals. It is down to sheer single-mindedness, at times.

“When I look back, when I needed a performance, I have always been able to find one. It was through grit and determination. Football is a team game, and I would always hope I was selfless for the team and always did my best for the team.”