Alan Smith was ‘totally committed’ when signing Leeds United deal in 2003, a year before Man United move

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Everyone will remember the betrayal they felt when it was confirmed that Alan Smith had chosen to join Manchester United from Leeds United in the summer of 2004.

The financial collapse of that era, followed by relegation at the end of 2003-04, meant that Leeds had to sell players. Administrators allowed players to leave for less than they were worth, just to get money in.

Peter Ridsdale’s infamous “we lived the dream” comments were the title for a story that saw Leeds spend money they didn’t have. A gamble that didn’t pay off, ending in bankruptcy, and it still affects Leeds now.

Since relegation in 2004, Leeds have failed to climb back to the position they were once in. Leeds fans were hurting, the Leeds squad was hurting, but Smith took it to a new level when he joined Man United.

• READ MORE: Ray Parlour thinks Leeds United could end up finishing above Manchester United

What Alan Smith’s agent said a year before Man United move

Leeds’ Thorp Arch academy is held in high esteem because of the talent it churned out in the late 90’s and early noughties. The likes of Harry Kewell, Jonathan Woodgate, Paul Robinson and of course, Smith.

An Elland Road icon, Smith was the face of the Leeds side that starred in the Champions League. The club’s financial collapse meant Smith had to be sold, but to join Man United for £7m was heartbreaking.

Everyone remembers the anger at Smith for choosing Old Trafford. Not many will remember what his agent said a year beforehand, when Smith had signed a new three-year Leeds deal worth £40,000 a week.

Alex Black told the Guardian in 2003, after Smith signed a deal to keep him at Leeds until 2006: “There has never been any question of his love for Leeds United and his desire to get something sorted.

“Alan is totally committed to Leeds, and he always wanted to sign. He is delighted we have agreed it, as I hope the fans are. No one can deny Alan’s commitment to the club,” Black said, after Smith’s new deal.

“Against Everton at the weekend, he had a slight virus, but he still tried his best for the cause. He wants to win things and win medals, and hopefully he will be doing that with Leeds United and with England.”

Alan Smith’s career in numbers, at Leeds and Man United

Fans were angry, it ended in a sour manner. Those on the Leeds terraces caught wind of Smith’s move to Man United months before it happened. It is believed Smith would have stayed if Leeds had survived.

Smith would go on to do well at Man United before a dismal injury against Liverpool in the FA Cup. The England international would then join Newcastle, having been converted into a midfielder by Sir Alex.

Smith finished his career at Notts County, after a spell with MK Dons. These days, Smith lives in Orlando, where he coaches both male and female footballers with the XL Soccer World Academy.