They say football is a young person’s game. However, one figure from Leeds United’s past proved this to be false by captaining the side at the age of 41.
Former Leeds man James Milner is still lining up in the Premier League, having scored for Brighton at the age of 39 in the current season.
There are few veterans in the current Leeds squad. Karl Darlow is the oldest player in Daniel Farke’s squad at 34 years of age, ahead of Leeds stalwarts Alex Cairns and Sam Byram, who are both 32.
Many fans of a certain vintage still dream of Milner making an emotional return to Leeds to end his career, as he rapidly approaches his 40th birthday.
If he did return to captain the club, he would be the most likely candidate to challenge the oldest player to lead out the Whites, setting a record which has stood since the 1950s.
Leeds United’s oldest-ever captain led the side at 41
Leeds had the most dominant player in world football in 1954, as John Charles swept all before him prior to leaving to join Juventus in 1957.
However, the rest of the Leeds side were struggling to make it out of the Second Division when they faced Hull City in the final game of the 1953/54 season.
Manager Raich Carter had taken over the Whites at the start of that season, having joined Leeds from Hull. But Leeds were trapped in mid-table, finishing 10th with 43 points from 42 games.
An extra element of intrigue was added to the game by the presence of Eddie Burbanks on the wing for the Whites. Burbanks had joined Leeds with Carter after the pair had worked together at Hull previously in his final season as a professional.
In honour of his final game before retirement, Burbanks was asked to captain Leeds three weeks after his 41st birthday, and a report from the Hull Daily Mail at the time stated that he “got a reception of which he was worthy” as the crowd saluted the veteran.
Fittingly, the game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Charles scoring his 46th goal of an incredible season of individual success.
- READ MORE: Leeds United closer than they’ve been to breaking a huge Don Revie record since Howard Wilkinson era
The oldest players to represent Leeds United
Not only is Eddie Burbanks the oldest man to captain Leeds, but he is also the oldest player to represent the club.
Peter Lorimer holds the record as the youngest player to represent the Whites, having played against Southampton before his 16th birthday, and is also the second-oldest player to play for Leeds after appearing at 38 years and eight months old in 1985, according to Transfermarkt.
The five oldest Leeds United players:
- Eddie Burbanks – 40 years, 5 months and 18 days
- Peter Lorimer – 38 years, 8 months and 3 days
- Jack Charlton – 37 years, 11 months and 20 days
- Gordon Strachan – 37 years, 10 months and 22 days
- Rob Green – 37 years, 7 months and 4 days
England World Cup winner and Leeds legend Jack Charlton is third on the list, having featured for Leeds just before his 38th birthday in 1973.
Title-winning former Leeds midfielder Gordon Strachan is fourth on the list, after appearing for Leeds at 37 years and 10 months old in 1994.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
