The year is 1999, and Leeds United have only managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup after a fourth-placed finish the season prior. Their first European clash, Partizan Belgrade.
Due to the conflict in the Balkans, the first leg is played in the Netherlands and not in Serbia. It sees David O’Leary take his side to Heerenveen to face a Partizan side at the time, well-established in Europe.
Leeds had made a solid start to the season, already playing seven Premier League games by the time they jet off to face Partizan. Four wins, including a win away at Tottenham and the 4-3 win over Coventry City.
O’Leary and Leeds have brought in a raft of homegrown talent, including Danny Mills, Michael Duberry, Michael Bridges, Darren Huckerby and Jason Wilcox. Mills and Bridges start for Leeds against Partizan.
The highlights as Leeds United beat Partizan on this day, in 1999
Despite fielding a 4-5-1 formation, new signing Duberry injured, and Gary Kelly playing as a right-winger after 16 months on the sidelines, Leeds secured a 3-1 win. But it did not all go their way on the night.
Partizan had taken the lead and after Lee Bowyer’s superb left-footed equaliser, Lucas Radebe conceded a penalty, only for Nigel Martyn to save it. He quickly made amends with one of Leeds’ most famous goals.
A looping Jonathan Woodgate header gave Radebe the chance to score but having stumbled, the Leeds skipper managed to produce an overhead kick while on his backside to put Leeds 2-1 ahead in the tie.
A neat move down the right in the second half saw Bowyer shoot left-footed again. His shot was straight at the goalkeeper, but he fumbled into his own net. Below are the highlights, 16 years ago today.
How Leeds got on in the second leg, and the rest of the UEFA Cup
New signing Huckerby’s mazy run in the second leg saw Leeds secure a 1-0 win and progress, 4-1 after two legs. It was the start of an incredible run that came to a horrendous and emotional end in 2000.
A Radebe goal was a collector’s item, but his equaliser against Spartak Moscow saw him net for a second time in the run to the semi-finals, beating Roma in the fourth round, Slavia Prague in the quarter-finals.
Eventually, Leeds went to Galatasaray and were forced to play their semi-final first leg just 24 hours after the deaths of Christoper Loftus and Kevin Speight. Deaths that continue to be remembered to this day.
Martyn told LeedsUnited.News in 2021 of how the Leeds squad were against playing the first leg, but had to with chairman Peter Ridsdale under pressure from UEFA to go ahead. It resulted in a 2-0 loss in Turkey.
An ill-tempered affair, in which Martyn remembers the lack of remorse from Galatasaray. In the second leg at home, an Eirik Bakke brace wasn’t enough as the two sides both finished with 10 men, drawing 2-2.
Galatasaray would go on to win the tournament, beating Arsenal on penalties in Denmark after the two sides played out a goalless 120 minutes. An incredible run that came to a sad, unfair end for Leeds.
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